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From: Monona Rossol <0000030664c37427-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Respirator physicals?
Date: Aug 13, 2020 00:36 UTC
Reply-To:
Monona Rossol
In-Reply-To: Re: [DCHAS-L] Respirator physicals?
On Aug 12, 2020, at 3:54 PM, Yaritza Brinker <YBrinker**At_Symbol_Here**FELE.COM> wrote:OSHA standards are not really standards, they are requirements written into the CFR. OSHA guidance documents, in multiple places, reinforce the fact that N95s are respirators and must be issued within the framework of a respiratory protection program.Here's a link to OSHA=E2=80™s National News Release from June.https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/national/06102020Here is a link to OSHA's Covid-19 FAQ's page. Go to the Cloth Face Coverings section. It explains the distinction between the different types of masks and respirators, with CFR cross-references.Here is a link to OSHA's Mask Fact Sheet.Thank you,Yaritza Brinker260.827.5402From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of Ellisor, Tim
Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2020 3:03 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Respirator physicals?** External Email **Dr. Callen,
I am so glad I read your post here. I have been fighting (to a degree) with my company about the mandatory use of KN-95 masks if workers have to work within 6 feet of each other. Instead of simply reaching out directly to OSHA with a letter of intent they are relying on in house counsel review and case law to justify suspension of ALL requirements for workers to be in the Resp. Prot.. Program. That being said, management did say the likelihood of approval for work within 6 ft would be very hard to attain and anyone not comfortable doing the work and thus wearing the KN-95 would not be made to do so..At this point I feel like I have more than done my due diligence in raising the concerns and frankly I am tired of sounding the proverbial horn and being ignored.What are the possible ramifications that my company can look forward to and is there anything else I can do to point the company in the right direction to protect not only the workers but the company itself?Thank you for your time and response,
Timothy A. EllisorFrom: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of John Callen
Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2020 11:58 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Respirator physicals?Jim, Joe, Roger & ALL,What I relate below certainly dates me, but that is why you keep Monona and me around to "Stir the Pot."You remind me of the Good O;' Days when we always took things very seriously (and not that people don't today) regarding respiratory protection regardless whether it was nuclear or non-nuclear. Those were the days when health physicists, industrial hygienists and safety professionals had the top authority and controlled the reins of respiratory protection equipment instead of differing to materials management and/or purchasing personnel or even distributors.I had the privilege and honor of meeting and knowing K. Paul Steinmeyer, RRPT first when he worked at Northeast Utilities (1979 - 1984) and thereafter at Radiation Safety Associates, Inc. (Hebron, CT). He was part of the group of "Legends in Their Own Time" I knew back in the mid-1970's through 1980's as Alan Hack, Ed Hyatt and John Pritchard at Los Alamos, Larry Birkner (deceased) at Celanese Corporation/ARCO, Howard Cohen, Ph.D. at Olin Corporation/Yale University, Craig Colton at OSHA Training Institute/3M and Tom Nelson at DuPont/NIHS, Inc. and where they worked at that time.It was at the time when I had responsibility for calling on and working together with health physicists, industrial hygienists and safety professionals at Consolidated Edison, Northeast Utilities and New York State Power Authority nuclear and fossil fuel sites. I even worked with Stone and Webster during the construction of Millstone III helping to train and fit test the construction workers on respiratory protection equipment. For all of these, NO medical clearance with spirometry, NO training with an exam (YES, an exam) and NO fit testing for tight-fitting respirators meant NO RESPIRATOR! Also and as a corollary for fit-testing, tight-fitting respirator wearers had to be clean shaven so that facial hair did not interfere with the sealing surface of the respirator faceiece or interfere with valve function. That meant NO 5 O'Clock shadow on up to a full beard with wiskers for men and NO "peach fuzz" for women (special case)!I would strongly suggest that everyone as part of the Division of Chemical Health & Safety, regardless of current responsibilities, read and thoroughly understand the contents of USNRC 10 CFR 20, specifically Subpart H (Sections 20.1701 - 20.1705) and also NUREG/CR-0041 Revision 1. These documents are readily available online. I always carried around with me the paper copies of the 1980's editions (My Bibles), which dates me long before laptops and the internet.Also Jim, going back to 1970's and until I am "blue in the face" in 2020 today, how many times I have had to repeat and repeat, "A Surgical Mask does not provide respiratory protection but rather helps provide asepsis, a physical barrier between the wearer and the work environment or sterile field." This certainly applies to the "creative masks or face shields" individuals or companies are making to "help" with the social distancing.Be Safe, Sound, Vigilant and Well!All My Best,John B. Callen, Ph.D.3M Personal Safety Division - RetiredACS/DCHAS Founding Member(312) 632-0195