OSHA Respiratory Protection 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA's Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134), when is an employer required to provide respirators to employees?
- When employees request them for comfort
- When engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or do not reduce exposures to safe levels (Correct answer)
- Only when air monitoring detects an IDLH atmosphere
- Whenever employees work outdoors
Correct answer: When engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or do not reduce exposures to safe levels
OSHA requires respirators when engineering and administrative controls alone cannot reduce hazardous exposures to acceptable levels.
Question 2: What does the acronym IDLH stand for in respiratory protection?
- Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (Correct answer)
- Identified Daily Limit for Hazards
- Industrial Danger Level Hazard
- Integrated Dose Limit for Hazardous materials
Correct answer: Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health
IDLH stands for Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health, representing an atmosphere that poses an immediate threat to life or causes irreversible health effects.
Question 3: Which type of respirator provides the highest level of respiratory protection?
- Half-face air-purifying respirator
- Dust mask (filtering facepiece)
- Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) in pressure-demand mode (Correct answer)
- Full-face air-purifying respirator
Correct answer: Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) in pressure-demand mode
A pressure-demand SCBA supplies clean air from a portable tank and is used in IDLH or oxygen-deficient atmospheres, providing the highest protection level.
Question 4: Before using a respirator, OSHA requires that employees undergo which of the following?
- A written safety pledge
- A medical evaluation to determine if they are physically capable of wearing a respirator (Correct answer)
- A 40-hour safety training course
- An annual eye examination
Correct answer: A medical evaluation to determine if they are physically capable of wearing a respirator
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 mandates a medical evaluation before initial respirator use to ensure the employee can safely wear the respirator without health risks.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a fit test for a respirator?
- To verify the respirator cartridge is the correct chemical type
- To ensure the respirator forms an adequate seal on the wearer's face (Correct answer)
- To confirm the respirator meets NIOSH approval standards
- To measure the service life of the respirator filter
Correct answer: To ensure the respirator forms an adequate seal on the wearer's face
A fit test verifies that the specific respirator model forms a proper seal on an individual's face, preventing contaminants from bypassing the filter.
Question 6: How often must fit testing be performed for employees who use respirators?
- Every month
- Every five years
- At least annually and whenever a different respirator facepiece is used (Correct answer)
- Only during initial training
Correct answer: At least annually and whenever a different respirator facepiece is used
OSHA requires fit testing at least annually and whenever a new respirator facepiece is selected, or when changes in the employee's physical condition could affect the fit.
Question 7: Which standard governs OSHA's requirements for respiratory protection in general industry?
- 29 CFR 1910.120
- 29 CFR 1910.134 (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.146
- 29 CFR 1910.147
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.134
29 CFR 1910.134 is OSHA's Respiratory Protection standard that establishes minimum requirements for respiratory programs in general industry.
OSHA Respiratory Protection 1
Under OSHA's Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134), when is an employer required to provide respirators to employees?