Survey Exposes Some Shortcomings in Respirator Programs

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bang KM ; Doney B ; Greskevich, Mark F. ; Groce D ; Syamlal G
• Description:
  In 2001, the Suruey of Respirator Use and Practices gathered information on respirator use from 40,002 randomly selected US establishments. I The survey collected data on the types of respiratory protection used by workers at an establishment, types of respirator fit tests performed and presence of substances that prompted the decision to use respiratory protection. The findings of the survey raised questions regarding respirator use practices and how these practices compare with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations2 and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommendations.3 This report focuses on information from the respirator use and practices survey collected from establishments in the Paper and Allied Products industry (Standard Industrial Classification 26).4 This industry includes establishments engaged in the manufacturing of pulps from wood and other cellulose fibers, and from rags; paper and paperboard and paper and paperboard converted products such as paper bags, paper boxes, and envelopes. During these processes various dusts and chemicals might be released causing adverse health effects in workers. In circumstances where ventilation or substitution with a less toxic chemical is not an option respirator! protection may be the only protection available to workers. Findings and Discussion Approximately 9.4% or an estimated 674 establishments in the Paper and Allied Products industry used respirators. for required purposes in 2001 as compared with All Private Industry (4.5%). Also, workers in the Paper and Allied Products industry used respirators in greater proportions (4.8%) than workers in All Private Industry (3.1 %). Compared with All Private Industry, a smaller proportion of respirator-using establishments in Paper and Allied Products used disposable dust masks (69% vs 71.3), and a larger proportion used air-supplied respirators (2.8% vs 0.7%).1 Respiratory protection program quality indicators: Each of the following elements (developed on the basis of OSHA requirements2 and NlOSH recommendations3) is an important part of an effective respirator program. The percentage of establishments in the Paper and Allied Products industry using respirators with indicators of a potentially inadequate respiratory protection program is listed in parenthesis. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Dust Metals Occupational Health Paint Paper Particulate Matter Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Safety Safety Management Silicon Dioxide Solvents Surveys And Questionnaires

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• Keywords:
  Dusts Fumes Metal-fumes Paints Paper-manufacturing-industry Particulates Pulp-industry Questionnaires Regulations Respirators Respiratory-protective-equipment Safety-programs Silica-dusts Surveillance Vapors Work-practices

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• ISSN:
  0033-4081
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  26-27
• Volume:
  82
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20033678
• Citation:
  Pulp Pap 2008 Feb; 82(2):26-27
• Contact Point Address:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505
• CAS Registry Number:
  Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7) ; Sodium hydroxide (CAS RN 1310-73-2) ; Sulfuric acid (CAS RN 7664-93-9) ; Xylene (CAS RN 1330-20-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2008
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Pulp & Paper
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:bee3d9ffb0182a0a122331f50af7578e79df7970901bea253037cb243db8f36dec44fc9b37aca23e4ec56cf06435d4b5c08b7ec5b1f1d4c84076fe6004739531
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/189157/cdc_189157_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.03 MB ]