725 – Respiratory Protection for Competent Person

Description

This training provides instruction in the recognition, evaluation, and control of respiratory hazards and the proper selection, use, inspection, maintenance, and limitations of respiratory protection in construction and workplace environments.

The course addresses airborne hazards that may require respiratory protection, including dusts, fumes, mists, gases, vapors, particulates, and other potentially hazardous airborne contaminants.

Participants will receive instruction on the basic principles of respiratory protection, respirator types and limitations, air-purifying respirators, particulate-filtering respirators, atmosphere-supplying respirators, cartridges and filters, respirator selection considerations, proper use, inspection, cleaning, maintenance, storage, and recognizing conditions that may affect respirator performance.

Training topics may include workplace respiratory hazards, exposure assessment, respirator selection, Assigned Protection Factors (APF), Maximum Use Concentrations (MUC), respirator limitations, seal checks, fit testing, medical evaluation requirements, facial hair and other conditions affecting the respirator seal, cartridge and filter considerations, change schedules where applicable, and procedures for respirator use in routine and emergency situations.

Participants should understand that respirator selection must be based on the specific respiratory hazards present, anticipated exposure conditions, applicable exposure limits, the characteristics and limitations of the respirator, and the employer’s respiratory protection program.

Where respirator use is required, employers must establish and implement an appropriate respiratory protection program that addresses applicable program elements, including respirator selection, medical evaluations, fit testing for tight-fitting respirators, proper use, maintenance, training, and program evaluation.

Individuals assigned competent person or safety oversight responsibilities should be capable of recognizing existing and predictable respiratory hazards within the scope of their assigned duties and understand when appropriate corrective measures, exposure controls, or respiratory protection requirements must be implemented in accordance with employer procedures and their assigned authority.

Applicable requirements may include OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 – Respiratory Protection. For construction activities, respiratory protection requirements are incorporated through applicable construction standards, and additional substance-specific requirements may apply depending on the hazard involved.

This training is intended to supplement, not replace, the employer’s written respiratory protection program, workplace exposure assessment, required medical evaluation, respirator fit testing, respirator-specific training, manufacturer instructions, substance-specific requirements, or other applicable regulatory requirements.

Completion of this course does not, by itself, medically clear an employee to wear a respirator, constitute a respirator fit test, authorize the use of every type of respirator, or designate or certify an individual as a Competent Person or Qualified Person. Employer designation, medical evaluation, fit testing, training, authorization, knowledge, experience, and appropriate authority must be consistent with the individual’s assigned responsibilities.