Screening prospective workers for the ability to use respirators.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Hodous, Thomas K.
• Description:
  Screening prospective workers for their ability to use respirators is discussed. Medical effects of wearing respirators are considered. The added inspiratory and expiratory resistance and dead space of most respirators generally causes an increased tidal volume, and decreased respiratory rate and ventilation. Cardiac effects of respirator wear are discussed. While the added work of breathing from respirators is small, a heavy respirator can cause considerable cardiac stress due to the added weight. Light weight respirators involving work or exercise at submaximal efforts exert only minor cardiopulmonary effects, compared with the stress of mild to moderate exercise alone. This seems to be true for both normal individuals and those with impaired lung function. Temperature effects of respirators are considered. Closed circuit breathing units have the potential for causing heat stress since warm expired gases are rebreathed. Fitness guidelines are discussed. It is noted that each case must be considered individually to determine fitness to wear respirators. A medical history and a limited physical examination as a minimum are recommended. The author concludes that individuals with a slight degree of lung disease can tolerate cardiopulmonary stresses produced by respirator use.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Corrosion Hazardous Substances Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Cardiology Cardiopulmonary-function Irritants NIOSH-Author Psychological-processes Pulmonary-disorders Respiration Respirators Temperature-control Temperature-effects
• Document Type:
  Text
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Virginia ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-24
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00144927
• Citation:
  NIOSH 1984 Jul; :1-24
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1984
• NORA Priority Area:
  Respirator Research ; Respirators
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a697f5f978353a2bdac901646e0a56a5744b04f3c033548fe7b0e43652e34f752e3d1949509bce59d87023fd48c5735ba612803d0af700f488370f49f301eb93
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/179693/cdc_179693_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 301.38 KB ]