30 Mar Cartridge-Type Respirator Safety

Cartridge-Type Respirator Safety

Cartridge-type respirator safety requires workers to understand that air-purifying respirators have important limitations. They filter contaminants from surrounding air but do not supply oxygen and cannot be used safely in every hazardous atmosphere.

Half-mask cartridge respirators may provide protection against certain gases, vapors, particulates, or combinations of contaminants, but only when the respirator and cartridges are specifically approved for the hazard and workplace conditions.

Know the Atmosphere

Before using a cartridge-type respirator:

• The airborne contaminant must be identified.
• The concentration or expected concentration must be known or reasonably characterized.
• The atmosphere must contain at least 19.5% oxygen.
• The atmosphere must not be immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH).
• The respirator and cartridge must be appropriate and NIOSH-approved for the contaminant.
• The respirator must provide an adequate assigned protection factor (APF) for the exposure.

A properly fitted half-mask air-purifying respirator generally has an APF of 10. The required respirator must be selected based on the contaminant concentration, applicable occupational exposure limit, respirator limitations, and the employer’s written Respiratory Protection Program.

Cartridge Limitations

Cartridges are designed for specific contaminants and are not interchangeable simply because they fit the respirator.

• Use only cartridges approved for the specific respirator and contaminant.
• Follow the respirator manufacturer’s instructions and NIOSH approval limitations.
• Never use a cartridge for a contaminant it was not designed to control.
• Do not rely on odor, taste, or irritation to determine when a cartridge needs replacement.
• Gas and vapor cartridges must be changed according to the employer’s established cartridge change schedule or an appropriate end-of-service-life indicator (ESLI).
• Replace particulate filters when required by the manufacturer’s instructions, when damaged or soiled, or when breathing resistance becomes excessive.

If you smell or taste a contaminant, experience irritation, notice a change in breathing resistance, or suspect respirator failure, leave the contaminated area immediately and report the condition.

Confined Spaces and IDLH Atmospheres

Never assume a cartridge respirator is appropriate for confined-space entry.

Before entering a confined space, the atmosphere must be evaluated according to the applicable confined-space procedures. Cartridge-type air-purifying respirators must never be used in oxygen-deficient or IDLH atmospheres.

IDLH atmospheres require respiratory equipment specifically approved for those conditions, such as appropriate supplied-air or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

Proper Fit and Use

A respirator can provide its intended protection only when it seals properly against the face.

• Employees required to wear tight-fitting respirators must receive the required medical evaluation and fit testing before use.
• Use only the make, model, style, and size of respirator for which you have been fit tested.
• Perform a user seal check each time the respirator is put on.
• Facial hair or anything else that interferes with the sealing surface or valve function is prohibited.
• Inspect the facepiece, straps, valves, cartridges, filters, and other components before use.
• Never modify a respirator or substitute unapproved components.

Remember

Cartridge respirators do not make an unsafe atmosphere safe. Respirator selection must be based on the specific contaminant, exposure concentration, oxygen level, assigned protection factor, and limitations of the equipment.

When the contaminant or concentration is unknown, the atmosphere is oxygen deficient, or IDLH conditions exist or may develop, a cartridge-type air-purifying respirator is not appropriate.