Respiratory Protection


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Respiratory Protection

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Hazardous Chemicals: NIOSH Finds No Safe Exposure Levels Exist for Beryllium; Tips for Controlling Exposures
May 2011
Beryllium, a toxic metal, is used extensively in aerospace and mater-ials research as well as nuclear weapons development and testing. So it wasn't really a surprise when routine beryllium tests in July 2007 showed dangerously high levels in a machine shop at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory during a seismic retrofit. As many as 178 contract workers in this nuclear weapons research facility may have been exposed to the chemical, which is known to cause cancer in humans. . . . more »

Special Report included with this issue: Respiratory Protection: A Well-Designed Program Can Help You and Your Workers Breathe Easier
April 2011
Whenever airborne contaminants that could hurt workers lurk in the air, Cal/OSHA's General Industry Safety Orders Section 5144, Respiratory Protection, requires employers to take protective action. Ou . . . more »

Hazardous Chemicals: Cal/OSHA Regulates Exposure to Diacetyl and Other Buttery Flavorings--but Does Not Set a PEL
December 2010
It has been eight years since the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published the first reports of a potentially deadly lung disease in workers at a microwave-popcorn factory. In 2004, the first case of this newly identified lung disease--called "popcorn lung" by some and officially dubbed bronchiolitis obliterans for its devastating effect on the lungs--was documented in a California worker. The disease was eventually linked to diacetyl, a chemical used to create butter flavor in prepared foods. . . . more »

Trainer's Handbook: It's a Gas! Protect Workers from Fumigation Hazards
September 2010
Fumigation is a method of controlling pests by using airborne pesticides. The pests can include insects on crops, termites and bedbugs inside buildings, and pests in other enclosed spaces such as ships and railcars. . . . more »

Bulletin: NIOSH issues report on 3M Model 8000 respirator
August 2010
In December 2009, the state of California asked NIOSH to evaluate the 3M Model 8000 respirator after a large healthcare organization reported that it was unable to successfully . . . more »

Respiratory Protection Evaluation Checklist
COCA Online Exclusive April 2010
Before a worker can wear a respirator on the job, he or she must be medically evaluated to ensure that the respirator will not create a dangerous amount of additional stress on the worker's body. The . . . more »

Respiratory Protection: Behind the Mask: Conducting Employee Medical Evaluations for Respirator Use
April 2010
Respirators can be real lifesavers. A firefighter inside a building filled with toxic smoke breathes clean air because of his respirator as does a painter inside a spray booth. But for workers with underlying heart or lung issues, a respirator can place a dangerous amount of stress on the body. . . . more »

News Note: Videos Provide Respirator, Face Mask Guidance for Health Workers
March 2010
Federal OSHA has developed two new videos for healthcare workers that feature training and guidance on safe respirator use. The video "Respirator Safety" demonstrates how to . . . more »

Appeals Board Decisions: Employer Learns the Hard Way to Keep Safety Equipment Up to Date
May 2009
During an inspection of the Thayer Tunnel site in Rancho Cucamonga, a state Division of Occupational Safety and Health inspector checked out the contents of a metal storage container for supplies and found several self-rescue respirators. By checking the serial numbers on these respirators against a manufacturer's chart, the inspector discovered that one of them was . . . more »

Personal Protective Equipment: Do You Need Respirators in Your Workplace? Three Things You Need to Know to Choose the Right One
January 2009
The first patent issued in the United States for an air-filtering facemask--a respirator--went to Lewis P. Haslett in 1848. In the 160 years that followed Haslett's dust-filtering "lung protector," respirators have come a long way, although the fundamental design hasn't changed much. . . . more »

Indoor Air Quality: What's Fouling Your Air? Five Tips for Better Breathing
November 2008
Ordinarily, when we think of air pollution, what comes to mind is smog, thick smoke from wildfires, or toxic emissions that make breathing the air dangerous. But air quality inside a building can be dangerous, too. Find out what could be affecting indoor air quality in your workplace and the steps you can take to clear everyone's breathing air. . . . more »

Trainer's Handbook: Formaldehyde Dangers
July 2008
Formaldehyde has popped up in the news a lot lately. First, high levels of the chemical were found in the trailers the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided to people left homeless by . . . more »

DOWNLOAD: Commercial Wood Products Co. Dockets 05-R6D2-1653 through 1656
4/30/2008
Commercial Wood Products Co. (Employer) is a wood cabinet manufacturer. On November 3, 2004, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (the Division), through Associate Safety Engineer Dien Nguyen, conducted an accident inspection at a place of employment maintained by Employer at 10019 Yucca Road, Adelanto, California (the site). On April 6, 2005, the Division cited Employer for the following alleged violations of the occupational safety and health standards an orders found in Title 8, California Code of Regulations: . . . more »

DOWNLOAD: Cole-Chem Corporation 06-R4D1-1872
3/6/2008
On July 29, 2005, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (the Division), conducted an investigation at a place of Employment maintained by Cole-Chem Corporation (Employer) at 7401 World Way West, Los Angeles, California. On December 14, 2005, the Division cited Employer for following alleged violations of the occupational safety and health standards and orders found in Title 8 California Code of Regulations. . . . more »

DOWNLOAD: Innovative Construction Dockets 05-R4D4-1113 and 08-R4D4-0652/0653
3/4/2008
On November 23, 2004, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (the Division) through Ayman H. Shiblak, Cal/Osha Engineer conducted an accident inspection at a place of employment maintained by Employer at 11759 Killian Street, El Monte, California (the site). On February 18, 2005, the Division cited the Employer for the following alleged violations of the occupational safety and health standards and orders found in Title 8, California Code Regulations¹: . . . more »

Work-Related Asthma: What You Can Do to Reduce Employees' Risks
May 2005
Work-related asthma (WRA) is on the rise in California and throughout the United States. The state Depart- ment of Health Services (DHS) estimates that nearly 21 percent of all adults' asthma cases st . . . more »

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