Provide Training: Respiratory Protection

Employers must provide effective training to employees who are required to use respirators.

Training Requirements

• Why the respirator is necessary
• Limitations and capabilities of the respirator
• How to inspect, put on and remove, use and check the seal
• Maintenance and storage
• Recognition of medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent effective use
• General requirements of the OSHA standard
  
  
• Training also includes education on such issues as:
  • The mode of airborne infectious disease transmission
  • Signs and symptoms of airborne infectious diseases
  • Medical surveillance and therapy
  • Site specific protocol
    
    
• Training must be provided prior to use, unless acceptable training has been provided by another employer within the past 12 months
  
  
• Retraining is required annually, and when:
  • changes in the workplace or type of respirator render previous training obsolete
  • there are inadequacies in the employee’s knowledge or use
  • any other situation arises in which retraining appears necessary
  
  

Step 6: Fit Testing

see also>> Respirator Training: Public Health Respiratory Protection Program Template