Respiratory Protection Program 
Introduction
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Powered Air Purifying Respirator |
Respirators are personal protective devices designed to protect the wearer from hazardous atmospheres. Respirators are only acceptable when there is no other feasible way to perform a task safely.
Faculty and staff who are required to wear a respirator to perform their duties must participate in the UNH Respiratory Protection Program. Employees who wish to wear a respirator voluntarily (but who aren’t required to do so), see the Voluntary Use section below.
Employees in the Respiratory Protection Program must receive a medical evaluation, annual training, and in most cases an annual fit test.
All tasks for which respirators are required must have a Hazard Assessment. Hazard assessments are conducted by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety. Hazard assessments determine the need for respiratory protection, designate the type of respirator for the task, and designate the appropriate cartridge or filter to be worn. Hazard assessments have already been completed for many tasks performed on the UNH Durham campus. If you believe your task should require the use of a respirator, contact your supervisor. Supervisors and Department Heads can request hazard assessments by contacting OEHS.
Medical Evaluation
All employees must have a medical evaluation before they may be issued a respirator. Employees new to the program should download and print the Respiratory Protection Medical Questionnaire. Complete this form and submit to UNH Health Services. Medical evaluations must be repeated if employees are showing signs or symptoms of physical difficulty wearing the respirator. Consult the Respiratory Protection Program document for more information on repeat medical evaluations.
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Training
Annual training is typically held in January. Training announcements are made via email and posted to the OEHS training page. Training for employees who are new to the program is scheduled throughout the year at the request of the employee’s Department.
Fit Testing
Fit testing is scheduled during training sessions. Fit testing will only be performed after an individual has been medically approved to wear a respirator. OEHS offers a selection of half-face and full-face negative pressure respirators from which new users may select. Employees wearing respirator brands not available from OEHS may be required to provide appropriate filter cartridges for fit testing.
Program Compliance Guide for Departments and Supervisors
OEHS has developed a compliance checklist to help ensure your department is following the requirements of the UNH Respiratory Protection Program.
Voluntary Use of Respirators
UNH permits the voluntary use of filtering facepiece respirators (also called dust masks, or sometimes identified by their filtration level such as N95, N100, P100, etc) in environments where respiratory protection is not required. Departments may choose to provide these respirators or employees may bring their own. In either case, employees voluntarily wearing filtering facepiece respirators must read and sign the Voluntary Use Form but are not required to attend training or get a fit test. Departments must keep a copy of this form on file for the duration of the employee’s employment and submit a copy to OEHS. The voluntary use policy applies only to filtering facepiece respirators and only when they are used by choice.
Respiratory Protection Links
U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration Standard on Respiratory Protection
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Suggested Cleaning Procedures for Respirators
NIOSH Guide to Industrial Respiratory Protection