Respiration Devices

Certain employees, such as firefighters or crime scene cleanup crews, may require the use of respiration devices. According to the Cal/OSHA standard on respiratory protection (8 CCR 5144), if a job requires the use of respiration devices, the employer must provide a training session specific to those regulations. This program must include:

• Procedures for selecting proper respirators for each job
• Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators (since some medical conditions can make wearing a respirator unsafe)
• Procedures to make sure that respirators fit tightly and properly
• Procedures to ensure the proper use of the respirators
• Procedures and schedules for cleaning, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and maintaining respirators
• Procedures to ensure that the respirators provide adequate air quality, quantity, and flow
• Employee training for respiratory hazards the employees might encounter
• Employee training about the proper use of respirators, their limitations, and their maintenance
• Procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of the respiratory protection program

For the full regulations regarding respiratory systems, see the Additional Resources section at the end of this training course.

To learn more about Cal/OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens visit our Cal/OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Online Training web page.