From exposure assessments to respirator selection to fit testing, a written respiratory protection program has multiple requirements companies must meet. To help health and safety managers find the resources they need to develop and implement a successful, Occupational Safety and Health Administration-compliant program, 3M Personal Safety Division has announced the online Center for Respiratory Protection.
“When respirators are used in a workplace, OSHA requires companies to establish and maintain a written respiratory protection plan. A comprehensive and effective plan isn’t something that can be downloaded from the Internet,” says 3M Personal Safety Division Respiratory Protection Technical Services Manager Scott Larson. “An effective program needs to be tailored to the individual needs of the users at each worksite. With the Center for Respiratory Protection, technical service specialists summarize key points that those responsible for worker health and safety need to know to help establish and maintain a program. The Center also provides the tools to help employers as they put a program in place.”
The portal guides users through general steps, based on OSHA requirements and including Exposure Assessment; Respiratory Selection; Medical Evaluations; Fit Testing; Respirator Training; Respirator Maintenance; Program Evaluation; and, Recordkeeping. The website provides articles, videos, tool kits, and fast facts—all created or curated by respiratory protection technical service specialists at 3M.
“This new online resource provides an outlet for 3M to present valuable information, and a place that helps make it easier for our customers to select and use respiratory protection correctly,” Larson affirms. — 3M Personal Safety Division, St. Paul, Minn., 800/328-1667