08 Mar Half-Mask Air-Purifying Respirator
Care for Your Half-Mask Air-Purifying Respirator
Personal Protection
A half-mask air-purifying respirator (APR) can protect you from certain airborne contaminants only when the respirator and cartridges or filters are properly selected for the hazard, correctly fitted, maintained, and used as required.
Before using a respirator, employees must be medically evaluated, trained, and fit tested as required by the company’s Respiratory Protection Program. Never use a respirator for a contaminant or concentration for which it was not selected.
Inspect Before Each Use
Inspect your respirator before each use and during cleaning. Check:
- Facepiece for cracks, tears, holes, distortion, or deterioration.
- Head straps for breaks, loss of elasticity, fraying, or damaged attachments.
- Inhalation and exhalation valves for dirt, damage, distortion, or improper seating.
- Cartridge and filter connections for cracks, damaged threads, or other defects.
- Cartridges and filters for damage, contamination, or improper installation.
- All gaskets, seals, and other components for proper condition and placement.
Do not use a defective respirator. Remove it from service and have it repaired with manufacturer-approved parts or replaced.
Cartridges and Filters
Use only cartridges, canisters, or filters that are NIOSH-approved for the respirator and the specific contaminant or hazard.
Filters should be replaced when required by the manufacturer, when damaged or soiled, or when breathing resistance increases.
For gases and vapors, do not rely on smell, taste, or irritation to determine when a cartridge should be changed. Cartridges must be replaced according to the company’s established cartridge change schedule or an appropriate end-of-service-life indicator (ESLI), when available.
Never attempt to clean, wash, or reuse a cartridge or filter unless specifically permitted by the manufacturer.
Perform a User Seal Check
A user seal check must be performed each time the respirator is put on. Follow the respirator manufacturer’s procedures for a positive-pressure or negative-pressure seal check.
A user seal check is not a substitute for required fit testing.
If you cannot obtain an adequate seal:
- Reposition the respirator and adjust the straps.
- Check the facepiece and valves for damage or obstruction.
- Make sure cartridges and filters are properly installed.
- Do not enter the hazardous area until an effective seal has been achieved.
Facial hair or anything else that interferes with the sealing surface or valve function must not be permitted where a tight-fitting respirator is required.
Cleaning and Disinfection
Respirators must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Clean reusable respirators according to the manufacturer’s instructions and the company’s Respiratory Protection Program.
Generally:
- Remove cartridges, filters, and other components as directed by the manufacturer.
- Wash the facepiece and appropriate components in warm water with an approved cleaner.
- Disinfect when required.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
- Allow components to air dry in a clean area.
- Reassemble the respirator and inspect it before storage.
Do not use cleaning products, solvents, excessive heat, or other methods that could damage the respirator.
Proper Storage
Store respirators so they are protected from:
- Dust and contamination.
- Sunlight and ultraviolet exposure.
- Excessive heat or cold.
- Moisture.
- Chemicals and damaging vapors.
- Crushing, deformation, or other physical damage.
Store the respirator so the facepiece and sealing surfaces maintain their natural shape. Follow manufacturer and company requirements for storing cartridges and filters between uses.
Know the Limitations
A half-mask air-purifying respirator does not supply oxygen. It must never be used in an oxygen-deficient atmosphere, an immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) atmosphere, or for contaminants or concentrations for which the respirator is not approved.
If you experience difficulty breathing, dizziness, irritation, unusual odor or taste, respirator malfunction, or any other indication that the respirator may not be providing adequate protection, leave the contaminated area immediately and notify your supervisor.
Remember
Your respirator can protect you only when it is the right respirator for the hazard, properly fitted, inspected, maintained, and worn correctly. Inspect it before every use, perform a user seal check each time you put it on, and follow the established cartridge change schedule.