Section 325.51461. Respirator program.

(1) An employer shall implement a respiratory protection program pursuant to Occupational Health Standard Part 451 “Respiratory Protection,” as referenced in R 325.51451a, that covers each employee required by these rules to use a respirator.

(2)     If an employee uses air-purifying respirators with chemical cartridges or canisters that do not contain end-of-service-life indicators approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the employer shall replace these cartridges or canisters as specified in Occupational Health Standard Part  451 “Respiratory Protection,” as referenced in R 325.51451a, or at the end of the workshift, whichever condition occurs first.

(3)   The cartridge shall be replaced after 3 hours of use or at the end of the work shift, whichever occurs first, unless the cartridge contains a NIOSH-approved end-of- service-life indicator (ESLI) to show when breakthrough occurs.

(4)       Unless the canister contains a NIOSH-approved ELSI to show when breakthrough occurs, replace canisters used in atmospheres up to 7.5 ppm (10 x PEL) every 4 hours and industrial-size canisters used in atmospheres up to 75 ppm (100 x PEL) every 2 hours, or at the end of the work shift, whichever occurs first.

History:  1990 AACS; 1993 AACS; 1999 AACS; 2014 AACS; Republished in 2015 MR 8, May 15,