An OSHA respirator is a NIOSH-approved device that protects workers from inhaling harmful particles. There are two types: air purifying and supplied air respirators. Employers must provide training, medical screenings, and a respiratory protection program. Proper usage is necessary for effectiveness. OSHA ensures safe working conditions through workplace standards and state programs.
An Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) respirator is any respirator that meets the standards set forth in OSHA regulation 29 CRF part 1910. This regulation covers the selection, use, and maintenance of respirators in the workplace. To be approved as an OSHA respirator, the device must be certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). It must have been selected to meet the particular hazards of the workplace and be used and maintained appropriately.
A respirator is a device worn over the nose and mouth to prevent the wearer from inhaling airborne particles that could cause a health risk. There are two basic types of respirators. Air purifying respirators (APRs) remove contaminants from the air. An example of this type of respirator is one used by professional cleaners to keep them from inhaling mold and dust. A supplied air respirator (ASR) supplies clean air from another source such as a portable tank.
According to OSHA regulations, when an employee works in an environment where they may breathe contaminated air, the employee must be equipped with an OSHA respirator. The employer must also write a respiratory protection program and provide employees with respirator training. Employees must receive medical screenings to ensure they are fit to use respirators.
The most basic feature of an OSHA respirator is that it is NIOSH approved. NIOSH-approved respirators are classified according to the types of contaminants they protect against. Every NIOSH approved respirator has an approval number and comes with proper wearing procedures.
Even if a respirator is NIOSH approved, it is not an OSHA respirator unless it is used properly. This means that the respirator must be approved for the specific type of contaminants present in the workplace where it will be used. The wearer must also follow the correct usage procedures. The respirator should fit properly and be replaced when it has reached its life.
OSHA was created by the US Congress in 1970 as a division of the US Department of Labor. Its mission is to ensure that all employees in the United States work in safe and healthy conditions. To fulfill this mission, OSHA publishes workplace standards that must be followed by all businesses in the United States. He also oversees state programs, which administer standards that meet or exceed those set by OSHA.
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