Step 2 - Perform a Respiratory Hazard Evaluation of the Healthcare Facility

Healthcare facilities must identify all respiratory hazards in the workplace and accurately evaluate the potential for workers to be exposed to these hazards. This hazard analysis provides the respiratory protection Program Administrator and ATD Plan Administrator with the information needed to develop a respiratory protection program.

The process of respiratory hazard evaluation includes the following:

• Identification of all of the respiratory hazards to which workers may be exposed:
  • Specifically, where and when are workers exposed to respiratory hazards?
  • Specifically, which tasks expose workers to respiratory hazards?
• Determination of the state and physical form of the hazards:
  • Are they solids, liquids, or gases?
  • Are they chemical hazards or aerosol transmissible diseases (ATDs)?
  • Do the solids or liquids release vapors, or do they form dusts or mists?
  • Are there oxygen-deficient environments in the facility?
  • Are there a combination of states and forms of hazards?
• Assessment of the levels of hazards present and the number of employees exposed
• Determination of the type of harm to human health that the hazards could cause

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