Breathing Air
Employers must use the assigned protection factors listed in Table below to select a respirator that meets or exceeds the required level of employee protection. When using a combination respirator (e.g., airline respirators with an air-purifying filter), employers must ensure that the assigned protection factor is appropriate to the mode of operation in which the respirator is being used.
| Type of Respirator | Quarter mask | Half mask | Fullfacepiece | Helmet/hood | Loose-fitting facepiece |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Air-Purifying Respirator | 5 | 310 | 50 | ........ | ........ |
| 2. Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) | ........ | 50 | 1,000 | 425/1,000 | 25 |
| 3. Supplied-Air Respirator(SAR) or Airline Respirator | |||||
|
........ | 10 | 50 | ........ | ........ |
|
........ | 50 | 1,000 | 425/1,000 | 25 |
|
........ | 50 | 1,000 | ........ | ........ |
| 4. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus(SCBA) | |||||
|
........ | 10 | 50 | 50 | ........ |
|
........ | ........ | 1,000 | 1,000 | ........ |
For all IDLH atmospheres, the employer shall ensure that:
- One employee or, when needed, more than one employee is located outside the IDLH atmosphere;
- Visual, voice, or signal line communication is maintained between the employee(s) in the IDLH atmosphere and the employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere;
- The employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere are trained and equipped to provide effective emergency rescue;
- The employer or designee is notified before the employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere enter the IDLH atmosphere to provide emergency rescue;
- The employer or designee authorized to do so by the employer, once notified, provides necessary assistance appropriate to the situation;
- Employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmospheres are equipped with: Pressure demand or other positive pressure SCBAs, or a pressure demand or other positive pressure supplied-air respirator with auxiliary SCBA; and either
Appropriate retrieval equipment for removing the employee(s) who enter(s) these hazardous atmospheres where retrieval equipment would contribute to the rescue of the employee(s) and would not increase the overall risk resulting from entry;
Equivalent means for rescue where retrieval equipment is not required .
The employer must regularly provide effective training to employees who are required to use respirators SCBA. The training must be comprehensive, understandable, and recur annually, and more often if necessary. The employer must also provide the basic information on respirators to employees who wear respirators when not required by this section or by the employer to do so.
The employer shall ensure that each employee can demonstrate knowledge of at least the following:
- Why the respirator is necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator;
- What the limitations and capabilities of the respirator are;
- How to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations, including situations in which the respirator malfunctions;
- How to inspect, donning & doffing, use, and check the seals of the respirator;
- The procedures are for maintenance and storage of the respirator;
- How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators; and
- How to identify Breathing Air Cylinders based on cylinder colour code & markings, whether full or empty, last HPT / Refill date etc.
The employer in Toxic / IDLH conditions require to provide employees using atmosphere-supplying respirators (supplied-air and SCBA) with breathing air of high purity.
The employer shall ensure that compressed air, compressed oxygen, liquid air, and liquid oxygen used for respiration accords with the following specifications:
- Compressed breathing air shall meet at least the requirements for Grade D breathing air described in ANSI/ OSHA -
- Oxygen content (v/v) of 19.5 - 23.5%;
- Hydrocarbon (condensed) content of 5 milligrams per cubic meter of air or less;
- Carbon monoxide (CO) content of 10 ppm or less;
- Carbon dioxide content of 1,000 ppm or less; and
- Ordour : Lack of noticeable odour.
NOTE :
The employer shall ensure that compressed oxygen is not used in atmosphere-supplying respirators that have previously used compressed air.
The employer shall ensure that oxygen concentrations greater than 23.5% are used only in equipment designed for oxygen service or distribution
The employer shall ensure that cylinders used to supply breathing air to respirators meet the following requirements:
- Cylinders are tested and maintained as prescribed as per Gas Cylinders Rule 2004 / BIS - PESO Guidelines; Govt of India.
- Cylinders of purchased breathing air have a certificate of analysis from the supplier that the breathing air meets the requirements for Grade D breathing air
- The moisture content in the cylinder does not exceed a dew point of -50 deg.F (-45.6 deg.C) at 1 atmosphere pressure.
The Service Provider shall ensure that compressors used to supply breathing air to respirators are constructed and situated so as to:
- Prevent entry of contaminated air into the air-supply system;
- Minimize moisture content so that the dew point at 1 atmosphere pressure is 10 degrees F (5.56 deg.C) below the ambient temperature;
- Have suitable in-line air-purifying filters to further ensure breathing air quality. Filters shall be maintained and replaced or refurbished periodically following the manufacturer's instructions.
- Have a tag containing the most recent change date and the signature of the person authorized by the employer to perform the change. The tag shall be maintained at the compressor.
- For compressors that are not oil-lubricated, the employer shall ensure that carbon monoxide levels in the breathing air do not exceed 10 ppm.
The employer shall ensure that breathing air couplings are incompatible with outlets for non respirable worksite air or other gas systems. No asphyxiating substance shall be introduced into breathing air lines.
The employer shall use only the respirator manufacturer's NIOSH /EN/ PESO -approved breathing- air cylinders,marked and maintained in accordance with the Quality Assurance provisions & statutory guidelines in force.
