Personal Protective Equipment Flashcards

What is the correct method for cleaning and maintaining reusable elastomeric respirator facepieces used in mold remediation?

Answer: Wash with soap and water, disinfect, rinse thoroughly, dry, and store in a sealed bag

Reusable facepieces must be washed with mild soap, disinfected with an approved solution, thoroughly rinsed to remove residue, dried, and stored in a clean sealed container.

A mold remediation worker is medically evaluated and the physician determines the worker cannot safely wear a negative-pressure respirator. What option may still allow the worker to participate in remediation tasks?

Answer: A positive-pressure supplied-air or PAPR respirator, if medically approved

Workers who cannot tolerate negative-pressure devices may be medically cleared for positive-pressure respirators such as PAPRs or supplied-air respirators, which require less breathing effort.

Which standard specifies the minimum efficiency levels for NIOSH-certified N95, N99, and N100 filtering facepiece respirators?

Answer: NIOSH 42 CFR Part 84

NIOSH 42 CFR Part 84 is the federal regulation that establishes testing and certification requirements, including minimum filtration efficiencies, for all NIOSH-certified respirators.

During mold remediation, what is the significance of using PPE that carries a CE mark (European conformity) versus NIOSH certification in a US work environment?

Answer: NIOSH-certified equipment is required to comply with US OSHA standards; CE-only equipment may not meet US requirements

OSHA requires NIOSH-certified respirators in US workplaces; CE-marked respirators are tested to European standards (EN 149) and do not satisfy US regulatory requirements.

What is the purpose of maintaining a log of PPE inspections during a mold remediation project?

Answer: To document that equipment was checked for defects and is fit for use, supporting regulatory compliance

PPE inspection logs provide documentation that equipment integrity was verified before use, supporting OSHA compliance and providing a record in the event of a worker exposure claim.

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'PPE hierarchy' in a mold remediation program?

Answer: PPE is the last line of defense, used after engineering and administrative controls have been applied

According to the hierarchy of controls, PPE is the last resort — used only after elimination, substitution, engineering controls, and administrative controls have been maximized.

A remediator must work in a confined crawl space with active mold growth. Beyond standard PPE, what additional precaution is most critical?

Answer: Conduct atmospheric testing for oxygen levels and hazardous gases before entry

Confined spaces may have oxygen-deficient or toxic atmospheres independent of mold; atmospheric testing before entry is required to identify respiratory hazards beyond biological contaminants.