• Employee Training

General Training Requirements

The Program Administrator will coordinate adequate training for respirator users and their supervisors. Employees will be trained on the proper use of their respirator prior to using it in the workplace. Supervisors will also be trained prior to supervising employees that must wear respirators. Employees will be retrained annually or as needed (e.g., if they change departments and need to use a different respirator). Respirator training will be documented by the employee’s supervisor, with hard copies forwarded to the Program Administrator. Documentation pertaining to the type, model, and size of respirator for which each employee has been trained and fit tested will be included.

The SBCCD RPP training course will cover the following topics:

o   The SBCCD Respiratory Protection Program

o   The Cal/OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard

o   Respiratory hazards encountered at SBCCD and their health effects

o   Proper selection and use of respirators

o   Limitations of respirators

o   Respirator donning and user seal (fit) checks

o   Fit testing

o   Maintenance and storage

o   Medical signs and symptoms which may indicate the respirator is not functioning properly or providing adequate protection

• The Program Administrator will identify respirators to be used on site, based on the hazards to which workers are exposed and in accordance with all Cal/OSHA standards. The Program Administrator will ensure a hazard evaluation is performed by a competent individual (SBCCD safety consultant) for each operation, process, or work area where airborne contaminants may be present in routine operations or during an emergency.
• This hazard evaluation will include:

o   Identification and development of a list of hazardous substances used in the workplace by department or work process;

o   Review of work processes, by way of surveying the workplace, reviewing process records, and talking with employees and supervisors to determine where potential exposures to these hazardous substances occur;

o   Conducting necessary exposure monitoring to quantify potential hazardous exposures.

• Respirators are issued for the exclusive use of an employee and shall be cleaned by the user as often as necessary. Cleaning and maintenance of respirators should utilize products and materials recommended by the respirator manufacturer. The following guidelines should be used when cleaning and disinfecting respirators:

o   Disassemble respirator, removing any filters, canisters, or cartridges.

o   Wash the face piece and associated parts in a mild detergent with warm water. Do not use organic solvents.

o   Rinse completely in clean warm water.

o   Wipe the respirator with disinfectant wipes (70% Isopropyl Alcohol) to kill germs.

o   Air-dry the respirator in a clean area.

o   Reassemble the respirator and replace any defective parts.

o   Place in a clean, dry plastic bag or other airtight container.