Respiratory Protection Program

An adaptable sample written respiratory protection program that includes respirator checklists employee handouts as well as OSHA regulations.

What Is It?

Some of the most common workplace hazards to the lungs are the lack of oxygen and the presence of harmful dust, fogs, smokes, mists, fumes, gases, vapors, or sprays including substances that may cause cancer, lung impairment, other diseases, or death. Respirators are necessary to prevent the entry of harmful substances into the lungs during breathing. Some respirators also provide a separate supply of breathable air so work can be performed where there is inadequate oxygen, or where greater protection is needed.

The prevention of atmospheric contamination at the work-site generally should be accomplished as far as feasible by engineering control measures, such as enclosing or confining the contaminant-producing operation, exhausting the contaminant, or substituting with less toxic materials. However, when effective engineering controls are not enough to contain the hazard completely, while those controls are being installed, or…