Toolbox Talk: Respirator Basics

Why it matters

Dust, fumes and vapors cause lung disease that may not show up for years. A poorly fitted respirator protects far less than people think.

Talking points

• Training and clearance: you must be trained, medically cleared and fit tested for the respirator you use.
• Clean-shaven seal: beards and stubble where the mask touches the skin let air leak around the edges.
• Seal check every time: before you work, check that the mask seals on your face as you were taught.
• Right filter for the hazard: particulate filters don't stop vapors, and vapor cartridges don't stop all dusts. Check the label and the SDS.
• A paper dust mask is not a respirator for chemical hazards, and an unapproved mask can give a false sense of safety.
• Know when to leave: if breathing gets hard, you smell or taste the contaminant, or you feel dizzy, go to fresh air and tell your supervisor.

Ask the crew

1. What are we breathing in today: dust, fumes, vapors?
2. Who has been fit tested for the respirator they are wearing?
3. How do you know when to change your filters or cartridges?

Before we start work today: Do a seal check on your respirator and confirm you have the right filter for today's hazard.

Who attended

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Source: OSHA 1910.134: Respiratory protection. General safety information only, not legal advice; follow your employer’s program, the manufacturer’s instructions and current regulations. Keep signed sheets with your safety records. FirstDayTraining.com · Todd Allyn Media Inc.