Inspecting Respirators

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Inspecting Respirators
The examples you are about to witness were
obtained from respirator users through the years.
Most problems were discovered during the annual
fit tests or represent problems found most
frequently at that time.
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General Cleanliness

• A respirator that is not clean can
• Cause a reduced seal
• Cause undue wear to certain respirator parts
  reducing its effectiveness and speed replacement
• Lead to skin problems if cleanliness is a
  chronic problem.

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General Cleanliness

• Look for dirt, films of chemical, oils, soap or
  disinfectant residue, and make-up
• Check how the respirator and cartridges are being
  stored to protect from chemicals and other
  contaminants

4
General cleanliness
Dust and grit under the exhalation valve can
reduce a fit factor to an unacceptable level.
Even when it doesnt look dirty, the seal can be
affected. A good reason to keep it clean.
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General cleanliness
Harness straps not washed will collect chemicals
and dirt between the fibers, which degrades the
elastic.
These residues are also in contact with the
users skin.
6
Degradation of harness straps
Result is no ability to adjust the harness for
comfort and good seal.
7
Degradation of harness straps
These users did not replace the harness when
needed and made adjustments to their straps that
were non-adjustable.
These users could not adjust the straps to meet
their needs for comfort and fit.
8
Degradation of harness straps
Another one for entry into the World Book of Duct
Tape
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Broken harnesses will not allow adequate
tightening and adjustment
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Check face piece for effects of UV radiation
Fading of color, chalky, and loss of flexibility,
stiffness
Deterioration of elastic straps, loss of
elasticity
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Check the face piece for distortion, proper
shape
Distorted seal surfaces
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Check the face piece for distortion
Also check how the respirator is stored and in
what kind of package to protect from distortion
(Is it compressed?)
Distorted seal surface
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Check face piece for cuts, tears, cracks, and
holes
It might be obvious.
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Check face piece for cuts, tears, cracks, and
holes
And it might not.
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Check face piece for cuts, tears, cracks, and
holes
So check carefully
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Inspect respirator face piece components
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Inhalation and exhalation valves
Are they present?
YES!
This does happen!
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Inhalation valves
Are they flat? Are the edges curled up?
Inhalation valve pretty bad curl
Inhalation valve extreme curl
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Inhalation valves
Are they flat? Are the edges curled up?
Inhalation valve moderate curl
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Inhalation valves are the supports cracked?
This sort of thing is easily missed
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Inhalation valves are the supports cracked?
A direct short for contaminants to the breathing
zone when inhaling
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Exhalation valves
Are they curled? Are they flat?
Poor seal here is direct short cut for
contaminants to breathing zone when inhaling
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Inhalation exhalation valves
Is the valve seat torn?
Is the valve seat completely seated in-place in
the valve support?
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Inhalation exhalation valves

• Are they pliable?
• Are they clean?
• Are they flat?
• Are they your buddys or the correct ones?
• Do you need to order some to have on-hand?
• Are they installed in the respirator? Did they
  get left out after cleaning?
• Check

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Full face respirators

• Is the speaker diaphragm in-place?

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Cartridges
Have they been dropped? Check for cracks
Tiny crack
Larger crack
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Cartridges

• Are they contaminated?
• Has the end-of-service life period been reached?
• Are they the right cartridge for the job?

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A Checklist

• Cleanliness dirt, chemical film, soap and
  disinfectant film, oils, and make-up
• Straps and harness Flexibility, elasticity, no
  cracks, not twisted, adjustable, clips work
• Cartridges soiled, cracks, end-of-service life
  period reached

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A Checklist

• Face piece cracks, cuts, holes, ultraviolet
  deterioration (chalky, discoloring, faded),
  stiffness, reduced pliability, proper shape, no
  deformities, stored un-compressed
• Face piece components Exhalation and inhalation
  valve in place, valves properly seated, valve
  seat not torn, valves pliable and flat, valves
  clean, speaking diaphragm in place

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Respirator Inspection Training is complete
Click if you are ready to take the training quiz
Click here if you would like to return to the
beginning of the training to review for the quiz
Return to the EHS training menu to take the
Respiratory Protection Refresher PowerPoint as
part of this training