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Respiratory HazardsIntroduction/Background
There are many respiratory hazards found in the air in a pork production facility. These can cause damage to a worker’s lungs and other parts of their body over long periods of time, or with short time periods of exposure. As had been described in the Federal Register, OSHA’s 1910.134 is generally not enforced in agricultural operations unless state standards are MORE stringent than the federal counterparts. “OSHA did not propose to expand coverage
of 29 CFR 1910.134 to agricultural workplaces covered by 29
CFR part 1928, and this final Respiratory Protection standard,
like the proposal, does not apply to agricultural operations.
The prior standard likewise did not apply to agricultural
operations. (See 29 CFR 1928.21.) OSHA received no public
comment requesting a change in coverage. Accordingly, the
issue of respirator use during agricultural operations was
not a part of this rulemaking. OSHA notes, however, that respirator
use during pesticide operations and handling is covered by
EPA's
Worker Protection Standard, 40 U.S.C. part 170, adopted
under the authority of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
and Rodenticide Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 136- 136y).”
The most common airborne hazards are dusts, vapors, and gases. Dust is a problem, because it is found everywhere, and the dust in a barn is made up of many different sources (animal dander, hair, manure, feed particles, bacteria, and other biologically active components). The most common vapor found around animals kept inside buildings is ammonia. Several gases can cause problems (including poisoning or asphyxiation) including hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, methane, and carbon monoxide (usually from inadequate ventilation when a fueled heater or engine is being used indoors). This section deals only with respiratory hazards
that a worker would most likely encounter inside a typical
production building during normal working situations. Gases
and other hazards found inside manure pits, bins, silos, and
other confined spaces are covered in the confined
spaces section. Producer employers must help protect workers from respiratory hazards. As with any hazard, it is best to locate the source(s) of the contaminant in the air and control or minimize its release at the source. For example, dust levels from feed can be controlled by minimizing the “drop” distances when feed is moved from one area to another such as being dropped from a conveyor into a feeder. Contaminants (particularly gases and vapors) can also be controlled through ventilation. Pork producers may wish to learn about methods and tools used to measure levels of vapors and gases. This can help you make better decisions about how to ventilate facilities in a way that reduces the contaminants in the building. Respiratory protection equipment (masks, etc.) is also a foundation for protecting workers but should never be viewed as a replacement for control at the source or proper ventilation! Within buildings, most workers will need access to “air purifying” respirators. It is the employer’s responsibility to provide this equipment. Respirators include two-strap dust masks; cartridge respirators for filtering out low concentrations of ammonia vapor; powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs); or gas masks that can filter out slightly higher concentrations. Many farm supply catalogs which specialize in safety-related equipment can help you make the best selection. Air purifying respirators absolutely must
not be used in manure pits or other confined spaces where
you are likely to have HIGH levels of toxic gases or low oxygen
levels (below 19.5%). These are environments where an air-supplying
respirator is needed (such as a self-contained breathing apparatus). Respirator use in many industries is regulated by OSHA. OSHA requires the following in their 29 CFR 1910.134 standard:
Other requirements and clarifying material can be found within the standard and other clarifying material is located here. Why do I need to know it? (expanded background, facts and resources) Need several links here, and suggest linking to THAT section of the PPSS chapter, plus the VIDEO, and the PowerPoint presentation. FAQ’s on this Issue and Answers: Q: Who can I talk to to learn more about “controlling”
air contaminants at their source? put anchors and links on the Q & A so people can jump right to the answer for the question of interest. Q: Who can I talk to to learn more about “controlling” air contaminants at their source? A: Veterinarians often have basic training as do county extension agents or educators. Or, they can provide referrals to other experts. Another good source for learning more about managing indoor air quality is Midwest Planning Service documents that can be purchased at the MWPS website. Q: I have heard that agricultural operations do not need to comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134. Is that correct? A: When federal OSHA proposed the standard for respiratory protection, they did not propose to cover agricultural workplaces. However, the safety principles imbedded within the OSHA standard should be viewed as a set of “best practices” to be followed by employers even if they are not directly covered by the standard. Your state may have regulatory requirements for agricultural operations that are similar to or even more stringent than the federal OSHA standard. Some insurance companies that provide worker coverage may require you to develop a formal respiratory protection program for your production operation. Additional FAQ’s From OSHA: Q: What is a respirator? A: A respirator is a protective facepiece, hood or helmet that is designed to protect the wearer against a variety of harmful airborne agents. Q: When is the use of respirators required? A: OSHA's respirator standard, 29 CFR 1910.134, requires the use of respirators to protect employees from breathing contaminated and/or oxygen-deficient air when effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted. Several other OSHA regulations also require the use of respirators. Q: Can any respirator be used? A: No, respirators shall be selected on the basis of hazards to which the worker is exposed (i.e., particulates, vapors, oxygen-deficiency, or combination). Also, OSHA requires the use of certified respirators. Q: Who certifies respirators? A: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Q: How can a certified respirator be recognized? A: On July 10, 1995, 30 CFR Part 11 certification procedures were replaced by 42 CFR Part 84 procedures. Under the 30 CFR Part 11 approval system, manufacturers were required to mark cartridges and filters with an abbreviated label that included a NIOSH/MSHA approval number ("TC number"). Under the 40 CFR Part 84 approval system, cartridges and filters are no longer marked with a "TC number". Instead, they are marked with "NIOSH", the manufacturer's name and part number, and an abbreviation to indicate the cartridge (e.g., OV, CL) or filter (e.g., N95, P100) type. All cartridges and filters are to be supplied with a matrix approval label, usually as an insert in the box. This label shows the NIOSH approved configurations and includes the "TC number", component parts, and cautions and use limitations. Nonpowered particulate respirators that were approved under 30 CFR Part 11 and use the "old" labeling were allowed to be manufactured and sold until July 10, 1998. Distributors were able to sell them and end-users were able to use them until their inventories were depleted. NIOSH established the 42 CFR Part 84 test
criteria to simulate worst-case respirator use. NIOSH encourages
users to discontinue the use of particulate respirators certified
under 30 CFR Part 11 and switch to particulate respirators
certified under 42 CFR Part 84.
(Interpretation of 42 CFR Part 84) Small
Entity Compliance Guide (pdf)
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