DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive
Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 13:05:14 -0700
Reply-To: Gordon Miller <miller22**At_Symbol_Here**LLNL.GOV>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Gordon Miller <miller22**At_Symbol_Here**LLNL.GOV>
Subject: Re: Supplied-air respirator question
The answer is yes. There is an ANSI standard about this, ANSI Z88.6,
"Medical Clearance Requirements for Respirator Use."
I doubt the evaluation will be extensive with a constant flow hood.
I presume the hose is connected to some kind of air supply unit or
source. The source needs to meet requirements of 29 CFR 1910.134 or
state equivalent. These requirements need to be taken seriously
because people are still dying because:
* An oil-lubricated compressor that was used to supply breathing air
overheated, cooked the lubricant, and fed lethal levels of carbon
monoxide to the user, or
* The hose coupling allowed the respirator to hook into a compressed
gas supply other than air, such as a plant nitrogen system.
In the USA, OSHA prescribes countermeasures for both - using
breathing air compressors without oil lubrication or
frequent/continuous CO monitoring and testing to ensure compliance
with CGA standard G7.1-1989 and requiring unique couplings for
respirator hoses to avoid connecting to a nitrogen or other gas line.
The OSHA standard is available at:
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=12716
Please feel free to call if you have other questions.
Gordon Miller
Respirator Program Administrator
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
P.O. Box 808 (L-379)
Livermore, California 94550
(925) 423-8036
Fax (925) 422-5176
miller22**At_Symbol_Here**llnl.gov
>Hello all,
>I was wondering if anyone knew whether or not a medical evaluation was
>necessary for lab personnel wearing a Supplied-air respirator, from
>reading 29 CFR 1910.134 it looks like they would but I just wanted to be
>sure. This would pertain to someone working in a lab that put on a loose
>fitting hood and have it hooked up to a hose that supplied ambient air to
>the user.
>Thanks,
>Jason
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