Methods to Eliminate or Reduce Chemical Respiratory Hazards

The preferred methods for eliminating or reducing chemical respiratory hazards fall into three categories and must be implemented in the following order:

• Substituting toxic chemicals or products with less toxic alternatives
• Installing engineering controls (for example, installing a local or general dilution ventilation system, such as a laboratory hood, or installing isolation or enclosure units to contain the hazard)
• Implementing administrative controls (for example, triaging patients exposed to chemical hazards, or scheduling major maintenance that uses hazardous chemicals for weekends or other times when few workers are in the facility)
• Changing work practices (for example, capping chemical containers, disinfecting all frequently touched surfaces, or washing hands regularly)

Employers should use these methods in this order because the goal is to eliminate the airborne chemical hazards in the first place. For example, if a hazardous product can be replaced with a non-hazardous alternative, then the need for a ventilation system may be eliminated.

To learn more about Healthcare Respiratory Protection visit our Cal/OSHA Healthcare Respiratory Protection Safety Online Training web page.