510 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 1-8

Sections

5-8. General Requirements.

Respiratory Protection

Develop a Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) when respirators are required due to exceeded Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) or regulations.
Ensure respirators are selected based on hazard knowledge and objective industrial hygiene data, and they must be NIOSH-certified.
Conduct fit testing for all employees required to wear respirators with tight-fitting facepieces to ensure a proper seal.

High-Visibility Safety Apparel (HVSA)

All HVSA must meet ANSI/ISEA 107 requirements and be worn when visibility hazards exist.
Class 2 HVSA is needed for limited visibility and exposure to vehicular traffic up to 35 mph.
When working at night, on or near sites where vehicles are present, workers must wear, at a minimum,

a Class 3 high-visibility safety coverall/jumpsuit or
a Class 3 high-visibility safety jacket and Class E high-visibility pants, or bib overalls.

High-visibility apparel must be free of damage, correctly fitted, and cleaned according to manufacturer's instructions.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

5-8. What is the minimum requirement for HVSA safety jackets when working in at night or near vehicles?

Class 3 HVSA jacket

Class 2 HVSA jacket

Class 1 HVSA jacket

Class E HVSA jacket

You forgot to answer the question!

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 5-8 (e.–f.).

5-8. General Requirements. (e.–f.).

e.  Respiratory Protection.  Respirators are required when OELs are exceeded and engineering and/or administrative exposure controls are either infeasible or unable to reduce exposure levels to an acceptable level, or when required by regulation.  See 29 CFR 1910.134 (contractors) and ER 385-1-90 (USACE).  (5-8.e)

(1)  When respiratory protection is required in the form of respirators, develop a RPP according to paragraph 5-7.b.  For roles and responsibilities of the RPP, see paragraph 5-4.c, and for applicable training requirements see paragraph 5-3.c.

(2)  Respirator Selection and Use.  Respirators must be selected by the RPPA (contractor)/RPPM in coordination with the RPPA (USACE) based on knowledge of the hazards and work methods to determine the highest potential exposure.  Objective industrial hygiene data for the particular task or similar operations, as appliable, may also be used to assist in selection.

(a)  All respirators must be NIOSH-certified.

(b)  Respirator canisters/cartridges must be changed out according to the manufacturer’s instructions or as specified by the RPPA/RPPM based on the operations, the objective industrial hygiene data, or from knowledge of similar operations.

(c)  Do not use air-purifying respirators in atmospheres with less than 19.5%
        oxygen or in at atmosphere that is IDLH.

(d)  If atmosphere-supplying respirators (for example, SARs, SCBAs) are used, the following requirements apply (excludes underwater diving SCBAs, see chapter 30):

(d-1)  Air supply must meet the Grade D breathing air requirements according to ANSI/CGA G-7.1. Representative samples of purchased breathing air must be taken and tested according to ASTM F3387 using an NFPA 1989 accredited lab.

(d-2)  If used in an atmosphere that has the potential to become IDLH, the respirator must have an alternate source of breathing air for escape from the environment.

(d-3)  If an airline respirator is used in an environment that has the potential to become IDLH, a respirator air attendant must be present to prevent the lines from becoming tangled or tied, to change the air supply tanks, and/or to confirm the air source (for example, compressor, air supply tank manifold) is adequately working.  If the air supply is interrupted, the attendant must immediately notify the respirator user to leave the area where respirator use is required.

(3)  Fit Testing.  Perform fit testing on all employees required to wear respirators with tight-fitting face pieces, including SARs and SCBAs, according to the procedures identified in the RPP to ensure that selected respirators achieve a proper face-to- facepiece seal.  Fit testing must be performed before initial use of the selected respirator, whenever respirator size, make or model is changed, and at least annually.

(4)  Medical Evaluation.  All respirator users, except for employees approved for voluntarily use of filtering facepieces as specified in paragraph 5-8.e(6) below, must be medically evaluated to ensure they are fit enough to wear the selected respirators before being fit tested. All USACE respirator users must have a pre-placement history and targeted physical according to ER 385-1-90.  Evaluation options for respirator use include:

(a)  Completion of the respirator questionnaire from 29 CFR 1910.134, Appendix C, OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire.  A PLHCP will review the questionnaire and may recommend medical exams and testing.  The employer must ensure that a follow-up medical examination is provided for the PLHCP recommendations prior to the user receiving medical clearance.

(b)  Respirator Medical Evaluation Service.  An online, mail-in or in-person evaluation service for the purpose of clearing an employee to wear selected respirators may be used provided it is supervised by a PLHCP and based upon to 29 CFR
        1910.134, Appendix C.

(c)  Provide additional medical evaluations when an employee reports medical signs or symptoms that are related to the ability to use a respirator; or a change occurs in workplace conditions (for example, physical work effort, protective clothing, temperature) that may result in a substantial increase in the physiological burden placed on an employee.

(d)  Medical Clearances.  Medical clearances to wear respirators must include the following:

(d-1)  Telephone, e-mail, and physical address of the medical facility/provider. (d-2)  Printed name of the PLHCP along with his/her signature.

(d-3)  The statement of clearances or respiratory limitations only (that is, no personal medical information or employee social security number may be included).

(d-4)  Date of examination and date that clearance expires.

(5)  Recordkeeping.  Employers (Contractor)/RPPM (USACE) must establish and retain written information regarding medical evaluations, fit testing, and the respirator program.  The following must be made available upon request:

(a)  Records of medical approval.

(b)  Fit test records must be kept for respirator users until the next fit test is administered.  Establish a record of the QLFT and QNFT administered to an employee including:

(b-1)  The name or identification of the employee tested.

(b-2)  Type of fit test performed and name of the test administrator.

(b-3)  Specific make, model, style, and size of respirator tested.

(b-4)  Date of test.

(b-5)  The pass/fail results for QLFTs or the fit factor and strip chart recording or other recording of the test results for QNFTs.

(6)  Voluntary Use.  The employer may allow the voluntary use of NIOSH- approved particulate filtering facepiece respirators (for example, N-95, P-95) in atmospheres that are below acceptable OELs (that is, a respirator is not required) and where such use will not in itself create a hazard, as determined by the RPPA (contractor)/RPPM in coordination with the RPPA (USACE).  Before such use, the employee must be trained according to paragraph 5-3.c(4).

f.  High-Visibility Safety Apparel (HVSA).  HVSA is required when there are hazards associated with personnel visibility.  (5-8.f)

(1)  All HVSA must meet the requirements of ANSI/ISEA 107.

(2)  Class 2 (Type R or P) HVSA must be worn whenever:

(a)  There is limited visibility of workers exposed to mobile/heavy equipment operations, vehicles, load handling, or other hazardous activities.

(b)  Reduced visibility conditions exist due to weather conditions (for example, rain, snow), illumination, or visually complex backgrounds where ambient visibility is at least 50 feet (15.2 m).

(3)  Class 3 (Type R or P) HVSA must be worn whenever:

(a)  Reduced visibility conditions exist due to weather conditions (for example, rain, snow), illumination, or visually complex backgrounds where ambient visibility is less than 50 feet (15.2 m).

(b)  Workers are exposed to vehicular or equipment traffic in excess of 35 mph
        (56.3 km/h).

(c)  Workers are performing tasks which divert attention from approaching vehicular traffic, traveling in excess of 35 mph (56.3 km/h), as posted.

(d)  Workers are involved in activities near vehicular traffic with no protective barriers.

(4)  When working at night, on or near sites where vehicles are present, workers must wear, at a minimum, a Class 3 high-visibility safety coverall/jumpsuit or a Class 3 high-visibility safety jacket and Class E high-visibility pants, or bib overalls.

(5)  If the use of high-visibility safety apparel proves to create a greater hazard due to moving machinery, pinch points, heat stress, or other reasons, develop an AHA detailing rationale for infeasibility of use and alternate safety measures to be used to ensure same level of worker safety and submit to the USACE supervisor for approval or acceptance by the KO or COR.  Work may not commence until such acceptance has been obtained. (See para 5-6)

(6)  The apparel background material color must be either fluorescent yellow- green, fluorescent orange-red, or fluorescent red (see ANSI/ISEA 107).  When choosing color, consider optimization of color conspicuity between the wearer and work environment.

(7)  All high-visibility apparel must be:

(a)  Free of roughness, sharp edges, or projections that could cause irritation or injury.

(b)  Correctly fitted to ensure that it remains in place for the expected period of use, environmental conditions, and wearer movements.

(c)  Cleaned, laundered and/or dry-cleaned according to the manufacturer’s instructions (for example, the label located on the apparel).

(d)  In useable condition with limited rips, tears or fading.

(e)  Inspected to ensure that the PPE meets the updated performance requirements including background material and reflective or combined-performance material and has been tested by an accredited laboratory.

(f)  Replaced if it does not comply with any of the above or ANSI/ISEA 107.