Respiratory Protection Program

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Definition - What does Respiratory Protection Program mean?

A respiratory protection program is a system to limit or curb the risk of exposure to airborne hazards, such as dust particles, fumes, mists, sprays, and vapours. It also doubles to keep workers safe when they enter areas or worksites with low oxygen levels. For this reason, an assigned respirator helps supply clean air or filter out harmful agents from the atmosphere to handle a job between each use(s).

SureHire explains Respiratory Protection Program

A respiratory protection program serves as a template to level the impact of airborne hazards based on the work environment and job demands. A medical pass from a doctor is required to dismiss any health concerns that might prevent a person from using a respirator. For example, people with cardiovascular or lung disease(s) might struggle to breathe based on pressurized air per force unit(s) delivered to the facepiece or leakage from toxins in the atmosphere. An employer must keep records updated and synced with tie-ups, such as human resources, to avoid oversights from the mix. This method translates to a worker's ability to care for, inspect, dispose of, and store a respirator. The worker must know how to perform seal checks of the facepiece and inspect filters/cartridges that become soiled or clogged from the buildup of contaminants in the mesh netting. This factor can lead to failure, which can cause the wearer to have dizzy spells/nausea and irritation to the mucus membranes (i.e., ears/nose/throat).

A health and safety policy might feature respiratory protection program guidelines as follows:

• Fit testing results.

• Training records.

• Filter/cartridge change schedules.

• Respirator selection process.

• Program assessments.

A respiratory protection program helps govern awareness of airborne hazards that pose health issues with methods for employees to adopt to preserve the longevity of life.

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