Checklist for Respirator Selection

Checklist for Respirator Selection

Check:

Respiratory hazards in your workplace have been identified and evaluated.

Employee exposures that have not been, or cannot be, evaluated are considered IDLH.

Respirators are National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) certified, and used under the conditions of the certification.

Respirators are selected based on the workplace hazards evaluated and workplace and user factors affecting respirator performance and reliability.

A sufficient number of respirator sizes and models are provided to be acceptable and correctly fit to the users.

For IDLH atmospheres:

Full facepiece pressure demand (SAR’s) Supplied Air Respirators with auxiliary (SCBA) Self Contained Breathing Apparatus unit or full facepiece pressure demand SCBS’s, with a minimum service life of 30 minutes, are provided.

Respirators used for escape only are NIOSH certified for the atmosphere in which they will be used.

Oxygen deficient atmospheres are considered IDLH.

For Non-IDLH atmospheres:

Respirators selected are appropriate for the chemical state and physical form of the contaminant.

Air-purifying respirators used for protection against gases and vapors are equipped with ESLIs (End Of Service Life Indicators) or a change schedule has been implemented.

Air-purifying respirators used for protection against particulates are equipped with NIOSH-certified HEPA filters or other filters certified by NIOSH for particulates in 42 CFR part 84.