SAFETY PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR DOSH WRITTEN
PROGRAM COMPLIANCE
KEY POINTS – RESPIRATORY HAZARDS ASSESSMENT AND PROTECTION
Requirements found in WAC 296-841 and 842
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This regulation applies to jobs posing hazard or potentially posing a hazard to the respiratory system above permissible exposure limits (PEL).
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Respiratory system hazards include toxic dusts, fibers, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smoke, sprays, vapors, or aerosols. Specifically, chemicals (listed), chemical processes (clandestine drug labs), biological agents (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and anthrax), pesticides, crowd control agents (pepper spray), oxygen deficient atmospheres and any other substance listed or known toxic.
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Jobs with the potential of listed a substance to be present above the permissible exposure limit (PEL), above the action limit (AL) or pose any other respiratory hazard must be evaluated. Emergency and rescue situations such as equipment or power failure, uncontrolled chemical reactions, fire, explosion, or human error must be included in the evaluation.
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Examples of jobs or work areas at schools that may require respirator use include woodworking, metalworking, print shop, grounds, painting, or work involving asbestos or lead based paint.
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Respirators should be provided after reasonable efforts to have been made to reduce or remove the hazard, eliminating the need for PPE. Ways to remove hazards include chemical substitution, changing a process, enclosures, local exhaust filtration system, general ventilation, modify work practices, and rotate employees (employee rotation is unacceptable in some cases.)
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If controls are not feasible, the employer is required to develop a respiratory protection plan following
WAC 296-842. Elements of the plan include:
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Designating a program administrator to oversee program development, implementation, and ongoing evaluations.
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Addressing the safe use of respirators.
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Developing a written plan containing elements of employee medical evaluation, how to properly clean and disinfect respirators, how to store respirators, ensure a safe air supply, employee training, and recordkeeping requirements.
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Selecting respirators, providing medical evaluations, fit testing, training, maintenance, safe use and removal of respirators, labeling of cartridges, and addressing emergency use requirements.
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If voluntary use of respirators is allowed, the employer is NOT required to develop a respiratory protection plan if the employees only use filtering-facepiece respirators. Other requirements, such as providing information (WAC 296-842-110 Table 2), keeping record, paying for medical evaluations and providing training, are required.

SAFETY PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR DOSH WRITTEN
PROGRAM COMPLIANCE
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Provide and document employee training on the use, wear, fit, maintenance, and limitations of respirators. Retrain employees when there are changes in the workplace, new respirator types, or when the employee is not using respirators or using them improperly.