
Respiratory Protection Programs
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program for situations in which permissible exposure limits (PELs) of airborne contaminants are exceeded, or when the employer requires the use of respirators by employees in situations such as potential infectious disease exposure.
Companies that require masks are required to maintain a specific Respiratory Protection Program. These programs are required by law to both educate and protect the health of employees who work around dangerous airborne contaminants.
ERS will provide your company with the following federally mandated Respiratory Protection components:
- A written document outlining proper chemical handling procedures and personal protective equipment requirements.
- Physician Medical Evaluation Forms
- Respirator Fit Testing
- Employee Training
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Respirator Fit Tests in Montgomery County, PA
Workers in a variety of industries have the potential to be exposed to airborne contaminants during the course of their normal workdays; dentistry, automotive collision repair, small manufacturing, and stone or concrete fabrication are just a few examples. Without proper respiratory protection that fits correctly, these workers could potentially suffer injuries or diseases from breathing in materials like corrosive chemical fumes, paint fumes, and harmful particulate matter.
If you own or operate a business where employees could be exposed to hazardous airborne substances, you have a responsibility to conform to the standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding respiratory protection. You’ll also be required to conduct yearly fit testing and certification of all respirators used by your employees to ensure they fit correctly and provide the protection they’re designed to. Is your workplace in compliance with OSHA’s stringent respirator standards? If you’re not sure, respirator fit testing and respiratory protection training from Environmental Risk Services can help you educate yourself and your employees about the need for and proper use of respirators and get you into compliance with OSHA respiratory protection standards as required by law.
OSHA requires employers to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program for situations in which permissible exposure limits (PELs) of airborne contaminants are exceeded, or when the employer requires the use of respirators by employees. Chemical fumes and particulate matter like wood dust or stone dust can be present in many workplaces, and they all present a significant hazard to anyone who spends time in their presence without respiratory protection. Fortunately, OSHA outlines a number of steps you can take to mitigate the danger presented by these substances. In addition to requiring the use of respirators, it’s a good strategy to implement engineering measures to control the hazard at its source. This may include the installation and maintenance of hood systems or dust collection equipment at your Bucks County business location.
Certain types of businesses may also be required to conform to OSHA respiratory protection standards specific to their industry. Automotive collision repair is one example, as body shops must maintain a specific respiratory protection program to protect workers from paint fumes and exposure to harmful chemicals that they encounter during the course of their normal work. Because employees in this industry routinely handle some of the most hazardous chemicals that can be found in a dealership service area, specific respiratory protection programs are required by law, not only to protect their health, but to educate them about the dangers they face.
If you own or operate a business in Montgomery County, PA, Philadelphia, Bucks County, or anywhere nearby, get in touch with Environmental Risk Services today to find out more about OSHA respiratory protection training, respiratory fit testing services, and other OSHA and EPA compliance training. Call (800) 377-2707 or fill out the convenient online form at the bottom of this page to find out more about these and all the other services we offer including OSHA inspection training in Philadelphia, Employee safety training in Bucks County, and forklift training in Montgomery County, PA.
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