Respiratory Protection Program

Mine operators are responsible for establishing a respiratory protection program. The program should stress training, and miners must be made aware that using respiratory equipment does not eliminate the hazards. If the equipment fails or is used improperly, overexposure to the hazards will occur. To reduce the possibility of failure, workers must ensure that the equipment fits correctly and is properly stored and maintained.

An effective respiratory program should cover the following topics:

• Written standard operating procedures
• Program evaluation
• Equipment selection
• Training
• Fit testing
• Inspection, cleaning, maintenance, and storage
• Medical examinations
• Work area surveillance
• Air quality standards
• Approved respirators

To learn more about MSHA Part 48 training requirements visit our MSHA Part 48 Subpart B Surface Mining Online Training web page.