Respirator Selection and Fit Testing
You are the supervisor for an asbestos abatement crew removing sprayed-on fireproofing containing 20% amosite asbestos. The work area is a confined space with poor ventilation. The exposure assessment indicates that airborne fiber concentrations may exceed 1 f/cc but are expected to be below 10 f/cc. You have a mix of workers: some have been fit tested within the past year, others have not. One worker has a beard. Another worker wears prescription glasses. You have a supply of half-face respirators with P100 filters and full-face respirators with P100 filters. You also have powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) with HEPA filters.
1. What respirator types are appropriate for this task, and what are the assigned protection factors?
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For asbestos exposures up to 10 f/cc, a half-face respirator with P100 filters has an assigned protection factor (APF) of 10, so it is acceptable if the exposure is below 10 f/cc. A full-face respirator with P100 has an APF of 50, and a PAPR with HEPA has an APF of 25 (loose-fitting) or 50 (tight-fitting). Given the confined space and poor ventilation, a full-face or PAPR is preferable for better protection and comfort. However, the worker with a beard cannot wear a tight-fitting respirator because facial hair interferes with the seal; he must be provided with a loose-fitting PAPR or be reassigned to a task that does not require respiratory protection. The worker with glasses must wear a full-face respirator with a spectacle kit or be provided with a loose-fitting PAPR to avoid breaking the seal.
2. What fit testing and training requirements apply?
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All workers required to use tight-fitting respirators must be fit tested annually using an OSHA-accepted protocol (e.g., quantitative or qualitative). The fit test must be conducted with the same make, model, and size of respirator they will use. Workers must also be medically evaluated and trained in respirator use, including donning, doffing, and user seal checks. The worker with a beard cannot be fit tested effectively and must not use a tight-fitting respirator. The supervisor must ensure that fit testing and training records are maintained.