Respiratory Protection
For supervisors, program administrators, safety committee members and respirator wearers: how airborne contaminants harm workers and why respirators come last, particles, gases and vapors, ppm and mg/m³, TWA, STEL and ceiling limits with OSHA PELs, NIOSH RELs and ACGIH TLVs, mixtures and extended shifts, exposure assessment and TWA calculations, 29 CFR 1910.134 and 1926.103 with the program administrator, NIOSH approval, Appendix D voluntary use and the 2025 medical evaluation proposal, respirator types from filtering facepieces to SCBA, assigned protection factors from Table 1, maximum use concentrations, IDLH and oxygen-deficient atmospheres, filter classes and data-based cartridge change schedules, Appendix C medical evaluation, qualitative and quantitative fit testing, facial hair and religious accommodation, use, cleaning, inspection and storage, Grade D breathing air, SCBA duration and IDLH rescue planning, and a capstone program for an invented fabrication shop.
HSE-240 12 lessons · 6 h 4 min
Offered by HSM University · Safety Training
This is the American version of this course. See the Canadian version.
What you'll learn
- Explain how airborne contaminants harm workers, why respirators sit near the bottom of the hierarchy of controls and why most respirator failures are program failures.
- Distinguish particles, gases and vapors, convert concentration units, and apply TWA, STEL and ceiling limits, OSHA PELs alongside NIOSH RELs and ACGIH TLVs, the additive mixture formula and adjustments for extended shifts.
- Describe the exposure assessment process, calculate concentrations and 8-hour TWAs from sampling data, use direct-reading instruments appropriately and interpret variable exposure data.
- Describe the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.134 and 1926.103, the required program elements, the program administrator, NIOSH approval under 42 CFR Part 84, voluntary use under Appendix D and the status of proposed changes.
- Compare air-purifying and atmosphere-supplying respirators, tight-fitting and loose-fitting facepieces, PAPRs, supplied-air respirators, SCBA and escape respirators, and recognize products that are not respirators.
- Select respirators using hazard ratios, assigned protection factors and maximum use concentrations, and apply the rules for IDLH, oxygen-deficient and unknown atmospheres.
- Explain how particulate filters and chemical cartridges work, interpret NIOSH filter classes and cartridge markings, and set data-based cartridge change schedules.
- Explain the physiological burden of respirators and the medical evaluation process under 1910.134(e), including the Appendix C questionnaire, confidentiality, PAPR alternatives and re-evaluation triggers.
- Describe qualitative and quantitative fit testing, calculate overall fit factors by the harmonic mean, perform user seal checks and manage facial hair, eyewear and religious accommodation.
- Supervise correct use, doffing, cleaning, inspection, repair and storage of respirators, and plan respirator training for workers and supervisors.
- Specify breathing air quality controls, estimate SCBA air duration, and plan standby, rescue and escape arrangements for IDLH work.
- Build, cost and evaluate a respiratory protection program for a workplace, and identify the weaknesses of an inadequate draft program.
Course content
12 lessons · 6 h 4 min total · final exam
- 1 Why respiratory protection matters 31 min · quiz
- 2 Airborne contaminants and exposure limits 32 min · quiz
- 3 Assessing exposure 32 min · quiz
- 4 Law, standards and program requirements 31 min · quiz
- 5 Types of respirators 30 min · quiz
- 6 Selecting respirators: protection factors, IDLH and oxygen 29 min · quiz
- 7 Filters, cartridges and change schedules 28 min · quiz
- 8 Medical evaluation and fitness to wear 30 min · quiz
- 9 Fit testing and user seal checks 30 min · quiz
- 10 Use, maintenance, cleaning and storage 30 min · quiz
- 11 Supplied air, SCBA and emergencies 29 min · quiz
- 12 Capstone: a respiratory protection program 32 min · quiz
- E Final exam 20 questions
Requirements
Recommended background. You can start any course at any time.
Description
For supervisors, program administrators, safety committee members and respirator wearers: how airborne contaminants harm workers and why respirators come last, particles, gases and vapors, ppm and mg/m³, TWA, STEL and ceiling limits with OSHA PELs, NIOSH RELs and ACGIH TLVs, mixtures and extended shifts, exposure assessment and TWA calculations, 29 CFR 1910.134 and 1926.103 with the program administrator, NIOSH approval, Appendix D voluntary use and the 2025 medical evaluation proposal, respirator types from filtering facepieces to SCBA, assigned protection factors from Table 1, maximum use concentrations, IDLH and oxygen-deficient atmospheres, filter classes and data-based cartridge change schedules, Appendix C medical evaluation, qualitative and quantitative fit testing, facial hair and religious accommodation, use, cleaning, inspection and storage, Grade D breathing air, SCBA duration and IDLH rescue planning, and a capstone program for an invented fabrication shop.