Continuing Respirator Effectiveness

In order to ensure the continuing effectiveness of respirators, employers must routinely monitor employee exposure and stress, as well as any changes in work area conditions. If there are any changes in the work area that may affect the effectiveness of respirators, the employer must reevaluate the respirator's effectiveness. For instance, if the concentration levels of an atmospheric hazard have noticeably increased, the employer should make sure that the currently used respirators are still effective enough to protect against the new concentration levels.

Employers must also ensure that workers leave the respirator use area for any of the following reasons:

• To wash their faces or respirator facepieces as often as necessary to avoid skin or eye irritation
• Whenever they detect vapor or gas breakthrough, changes in breathing resistance, or leakage of the facepiece
• To replace the respirator or the filter, cartridge, or canister

If an employee detects breakthrough, leakage, or changes in breathing resistance, the employer must repair or replace the respirator before the employee returns to the hazardous area.

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