November 15, 1985
| MEMORANDUM FOR: |
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS
|
| THRU: |
JOHN B. MILES, Director
Directorate of Field Operations
|
| FROM: |
STEPHEN J. MALLINGER, Acting Director
Directorate of Technical Support
|
| SUBJECT: |
Use or Bureau or Mines Approved Gas Mask Canisters |
We have received several inquiries concerning the use of Bureau or Mines
approved gas mask canisters. These canisters were approved under the Bureau
of Mines Schedule 14F for protection against many highly toxic substances
such as hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide and phosphine. All these
canisters were approved for concentrations far above their respective
immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) values and none of these
compounds has adequate odor warning properties for the respirator wearer to
detect excessive facepiece leakage or sorbent breakthrough.
Although the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have extended the
expiration date for the Bureau of Mines approved gas mask canisters, NIOSH
indicated that they could not conduct quality control testing on these
canisters to assure that the performance meets the certification
requirements.
In view of the above facts, it is concluded that the Bureau of Mines
approved gas mask canisters for protection against hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen
cyanide and phosphine may not provide adequate margin of safety to the
respirator wearers. Their use for other than emergency escape is not
acceptable.
|
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