CPR Respiratory & PPE Programs 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the assigned protection factor (APF) for a half-face air-purifying respirator according to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134?
- 5
- 10 (Correct answer)
- 50
- 1000
Correct answer: 10
OSHA assigns an APF of 10 to half-face air-purifying respirators, meaning they can be used when contaminant concentrations are up to 10 times the permissible exposure limit.
Question 2: In restoration work, which chemical hazard makes organic vapor cartridges necessary in addition to P100 particulate filters?
- Asbestos fibers
- Mycotoxins from mold
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cleaning agents or smoke damage (Correct answer)
- Lead dust from paint
Correct answer: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cleaning agents or smoke damage
VOCs from smoke-damaged materials, solvents, or cleaning chemicals require organic vapor cartridges because P100 filters alone do not capture gaseous contaminants.
Question 3: How often must respirator cartridges be replaced when no end-of-service-life indicator (ESLI) is present?
- Every 30 days regardless of use
- Based on a change schedule derived from objective information and data (Correct answer)
- Only when the wearer notices a smell or taste
- Every 90 days per OSHA mandate
Correct answer: Based on a change schedule derived from objective information and data
OSHA requires employers to establish a change schedule based on objective data such as cartridge manufacturer guidelines, air monitoring results, and use duration when no ESLI is available.
Question 4: Which glove material offers the best protection against chlorine bleach solutions commonly used in mold remediation?
- Latex
- Nitrile (Correct answer)
- Vinyl
- Cotton
Correct answer: Nitrile
Nitrile gloves provide excellent chemical resistance to bleach and other caustic cleaning agents used in mold and biohazard remediation, outperforming latex and vinyl.
Question 5: A positive pressure user seal check is performed by:
- Inhaling sharply and checking for inward collapse of the facepiece
- Exhaling gently and checking that no air escapes from the facepiece seal (Correct answer)
- Using a TSI PortaCount machine to measure leakage
- Spraying a challenge agent outside the mask and seeing if it is detected
Correct answer: Exhaling gently and checking that no air escapes from the facepiece seal
A positive pressure user seal check involves exhaling gently while blocking the exhalation valve; air should not leak from the facepiece seal if the fit is adequate.
Question 6: Employees who wear tight-fitting respirators and have facial hair that passes under the facepiece seal are:
- Permitted if the beard is less than 1/4 inch long
- Required to shave or use a loose-fitting respirator (Correct answer)
- Exempt if they pass a quantitative fit test
- Allowed only in Category 1 (minor) contamination zones
Correct answer: Required to shave or use a loose-fitting respirator
OSHA prohibits use of tight-fitting respirators by workers with facial hair that lies between the skin and the sealing surface because hair prevents an adequate seal.
Question 7: Which OSHA regulation governs the use of personal protective equipment in general industry restoration work?
- 29 CFR 1926.95
- 29 CFR 1910.132 (Correct answer)
- 40 CFR 763
- NFPA 1500
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.132
29 CFR 1910.132 is the general industry PPE standard that requires hazard assessments, appropriate PPE selection, and employee training for workplaces including restoration sites.
CPR Respiratory & PPE Programs 3
What is the assigned protection factor (APF) for a half-face air-purifying respirator according to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134?