Respiratory Protection Program

• Mandatory use applies to all St. Olaf College personnel (staff, faculty, and students) who are required to wear respirators to complete work-related tasks.  The use of a respirator may be required for one of the following reasons:
  • Personnel have an exposure to a respiratory hazard that is above a relevant exposure limit.
  • A qualified safety professional or medical personnel determines respiratory protection is required, regardless of exposure.
  • Supervisors or principal investigators choose to require the use of respiratory protection regardless of exposure level.
  • A chemical label or Safety Data Sheet specifically requires the use of respiratory protection for the activity being performed.
• The College will provide (or cover the cost of) medical evaluations, physician’s evaluation respirators, fit testing, and training to St. Olaf College personnel who are required to wear a respirator.
• All respirators must be NIOSH-approved.

• St. Olaf College employees may wish to use respiratory protection equipment for their own comfort or sense of well-being (under some circumstances), even when there is no recognized respiratory hazard or overexposure.
  • Respirator use in these circumstances is considered “voluntary use.”  Many elements of OSHA’s respiratory protection standard do not apply.
• Before using a respirator, voluntary users must:
  • Obtain permission from their supervisor and EHS to use a respirator.
  • If using a tight-fitting elastomeric respirator, have a medical evaluation performed by a physician or licensed health care professional (PLHCP) at the employee’s own cost to ensure that they are medically able to use that respirator.
• The College will provide fit testing and training at no cost to ensure proper use.
• If an N95 Filtering Facepiece (FFP) respirator is used by employees in areas that have no respiratory hazards, the College is not required to include these employees in the RPP.
  • The employee’s supervisor and EHS must, however, determine that such respirator use will not in itself create a hazard (i.e., by ensuring that masks are not used if dirty or contaminated, and that their use does not interfere with the employee’s ability to work safely).

• The College does not maintain respirators for use in emergency situations or as emergency escape-only situations because the campus facilities, work conditions, and emergency response plans are designed to avoid such situations.
• No individual is to knowingly work in an area that is, or is suspected of being, immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH).

This program does not apply to contractors; they should refer to their company’s Respiratory Protection Program.

These two forms MUST be completed and returned to Human Resources before fit testing can occur.

Appendix C1: Medical Questionnaire

Appendix C2: Physician’s Evaluation