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NIOSH Respirator Users' Notice:
ATTENTION: ALL USERS OF TYPE CE, ABRASIVE-BLAST
SUPPLIED-AIR RESPIRATORS |
Publication Date of Users' Notice: May 23, 1996
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is updating
information on (1) the kinds of respirators approved for abrasive-blast (sandblasting)
operations and (2) the NIOSH recommendations for selection and use of these respirators.
This information replaces the NIOSH Respirator User Notice dated October 4, 1993.
CURRENT CERTIFIED ABRASIVE-BLASTING RESPIRATORS
Type CE abrasive-blast supplied-air respirators are the only respirators suitable for
use in abrasive-blasting operations.* Currently, there are four kinds of Type CE
abrasive-blast respirators certified by NIOSH. These four kinds of respirators and the
NIOSH recommended assigned protection factors† (APF) are:
(1) a continuous-flow respirator with a loose-fitting hood and an APF of 25;
(2) a continuous-flow respirator with a tight-fitting facepiece and an APF of 50;
(3) a positive-pressure respirator with a tight-fitting half-mask facepiece and an APF
of 1000.
(4) a pressure-demand or positive-pressure respirator containing a tight-fitting full
facepiece and an APF of 2000.
*Note: Air purifying and powered-air purifying respirators are not recommended for
abrasive blasting operations, but may be suitable for auxiliary work such as outside
clean-up operations.
†Note: OSHA APFs for abrasive blasting operations may differ somewhat
from NIOSH recommended APFs. The reader should consult with his/her local OSHA office for
details.
NIOSH RECOMMENDATIONS
NIOSH recommends the following for all abrasive-blasting operations:
1. Silica sand should NOT be used as an abrasive medium.
2. Respirators should not be used as the only means of preventing or minimizing
exposures to airborne contaminants. Dust source controls such as containment systems,
local exhaust systems, and good work practices should be implemented as the primary means
of protecting workers. When dust source controls cannot keep exposures below the
recommended exposure limits, controls should be supplemented with the use of respiratory
protection.
3. Environmental monitoring by trained personnel should be conducted in all
abrasive-blasting applications. This is necessary to select the proper respirator (APF)
and insure that workers are not overexposed (i.e., measured contaminant concentration is
less than the exposure limit multiplied by the respirator APF).
4. Anytime environmental conditions, airborne contaminants, or their concentrations are
highly variable or poorly defined, high level respiratory protection should be used, even
if silica is not the abrasive agent.
5. If silica sand is used, despite its much greater hazard relative to other abrasive
agents, only the highest level protection respirators (i.e., respirators certified by
NIOSH as pressure-demand or positive pressure and with NIOSH recommended APFs of 1000 or
2000) should be used.
6. Respirators will only provide a satisfactory level of protection when they are
selected, fitted, used, and maintained according to the manufacturer's written
instructions, NIOSH approval limitations and guidelines, and OSHA regulatory requirements.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you require additional information, or have further questions, please direct your
request to:
Richard W. Metzler, Chief
Certification and Quality Assurance Branch
Division of Safety Research
1095 Willowdale Road
Morgantown, WV 26505
Telephone: (304) 285-5894, or call 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674)
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