Respiratory

Washington University is required by OSHA 1910.134(c) to maintain a respiratory protection program.  Per OSHA; “In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer shall establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. The program shall be updated as necessary to reflect those changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use.”

Compliance related links

• https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.134
• https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/hospresptoolkit/default.html

WUSTL Respiratory Protection Program Policy

• Respiratory Protection Program

When Respirator protection is required

• N-95 Communications

Voluntary Use

• In certain circumstances, the Washington University Respiratory Protection Program allows for the voluntary use of respiratory protection. Voluntary use is determined on a case-by-case basis. Contact the respiratory protection program director (contact information below) or your respiratory captain (for clinic areas).
• Contact EH&S if interested in voluntary use of a respirator

• Process for required respiratory use – Simplified
  • Contact your department/division respiratory captain or EH&S (contact info below) stating you need to use a respirator for your job
  • Access WorkDay and complete a “Request for Respirator”
  • Contact Employee Health for access to the Medical Evaluation in Readyset
  • Complete Medical Evaluation in Readyset and Submit
  • If approved by Occupational Health, contact your department/division respiratory captain or EH&S for a fit test
  • One year after fit test, a new fit test is required annually
• Process for required respiratory use – Detailed flow chart

• Clinical Respiratory Guidance
• When Respiratory Protection is required
  • N-95 communications
• N-95 Use
  • 3M 1804
  • 3M 1860
  • 3M 8210
  • Voluntary Use
    • In certain circumstances, the Washington University Respiratory Protection Program allows for the voluntary use of respiratory protection. Voluntary use is determined on a case-by-case basis. Contact the respiratory protection program director (contact information below) or your respiratory captain (for clinic areas).
    • Contact EH&S if interested in voluntary use of a respirator

• Facial Hair Styles
• Fit test guide
• Qualitative fit test form
• Rainbow passage

Clinical departments should have a staff/faculty member as a Respiratory Captain. This Captain would be responsible for fit testing department members that are required to wear a respirator as well as maintain these records and keep up with compliance.

• Training : For Respiratory Captain Training or Refresher Training, please Contact Tony Nardi (below under contact information).
• WorkDay Instructions
  • Adding employees to WorkDay Department Respiratory Org
  • How to find the Dept. HR Reps (add employee to Resp. Org.)
  • Entering fit test data into Workday video

In order to use a respirator, WUSTL employees must first:

• Submit “Request a Respirator” in WorkDay and
• Submit a medical evaluation through Service Now.  Once approved by Occupational Health, you can be fit tested to wear a respirator.
• See “WUSTL Respiratory Protection Process” for more details

Q. The substance I’m working with doesn’t require respiratory protection but I would feel better if I could use respiratory protection.

A. In certain circumstances, the Washington University Respiratory Protection Program allows for the voluntary use of respiratory protection. Voluntary use is determined on a case-by-case basis. Contact you’re the respiratory protection program director or your respiratory captain (for clinic areas).

Q. I have facial hair. Will I still be able to wear respiratory protection?

A. The use of tight fitting respirators requires a tight seal against the skin. OSHA requires that one is clean shaven within the last 24 hours. Some facial hair is permissible. See the link to facial hair in the forms section.

Facial hair is permissible with PAPR use, however PAPR use is not permitted in all areas

Q. Do I have to have medical clearance?

A. Medical clearance is required by OSHA for anyone in the Respiratory Protection Program. The only time it is not required is for voluntary use of an N-95.

Q. How often is medical clearance required?

A. OSHA requires medical clearance before first using respiratory protection. A periodic medical evaluation is required if there has been any medical changes that would affect your ability to wear a respirator since your last medical evaluation.

Q. How long does it take to get medical clearance?

A. Medical clearance can take anywhere from 2 days to 2+ weeks.

Q. How often is fit-testing/training required?

A. OSHA requires annual fit-testing/training.

Q. Do I have to provide my own respiratory protection?

A. OSHA requires the workplace to provide the respiratory protection equipment. However, if you are in the voluntary use program (see FAQ #1), you will be required to provide your own respiratory protection equipment.