Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 003F Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not ensure that each employee can demonstrate knowledge of at least the following: (i) Why the respirator is necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator; (ii) What the limitations and capabilities of the respirator are; (iii) How to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator; (iv) What the procedures are for maintenance and storage of the respirator: Facility: In the following instances, the employer did not ensure that each employee could demonstrate knowledge of the necessity of proper fit, usage, and maintenance of respirators, the limitations and capabilities of the respirator, how to inspect, don, doff, and seal check respirators, and the proper procedures for maintenance and storage of respirators: 1) Several workers were observed wearing half-mask elastomeric respirators with excessive facial hair, preventing a proper face-to-facepiece seal. This allowed workers to ingest and inhale toxic styrene vapors and explosive gel-coated dust; 2) Workers performing grinding of gel-coated fiberglass articles and performing buffing operations wore ineffective organic vapor cartridges instead of HEPA filters as protection against the explosive dust generated; 3) No worker was seen performing user check seals of their half-mask elastomeric respirator or full face respirator upon donning, to ensure the respirator had a proper face-to-facepiece seal; 4) Full face elastomeric respirators worn by workers conducting fiberglass lay-up operations were stored uncovered shop, and left uncovered inside the Front Shell booth during Lay-Up curing operations;