Section 325.51461a. Respirator selection.

Rule 11a. (1) The employer shall do all of the following:

(a)     Select, and provide to employees, the appropriate respirators specified in Occupational Health  Standard  Part   451  “Respiratory  Protection,”  as  referenced   in R 325.51451a.

(b)    Equip each air-purifying, full facepiece respirator with a canister or cartridge approved for protection against formaldehyde.

(c)   For escape, provide employees with 1 of the following respirator options:

(i)   A self-contained breathing apparatus operated in the demand or pressure-demand mode.

(ii)   A full facepiece respirator having a chin-style.

(iii)     A front-or back-mounted industrial-size, canister or cartridge approved for protection against formaldehyde.

(2)    An employer may substitute an air-purifying, half mask respirator for an air- purifying, full facepiece respirator when the half mask respirator is equipped with a cartridge approved for protection against formaldehyde and provide the affected employee with effective gas-proof goggles.

(3)     An employer shall provide employees who have difficulty using negative pressure respirators with powered air-purifying respirators permitted for use under subrule (1)(a) of this rule, and that affords adequate protection against formaldehyde exposures.

History: 2014 AACS; Republished in 2015 MR 8, May 15, 2015 can be referenced to 2014 AACS.