First: Paper dust masks (now called filtering facepieces in the regulation)
which are worn vountarily by the employee for protection against nuisance
particulates are exempted from the regulation. Second, there are types of
respirators (PAPR, for example) with a hood which do not require shaving.
Thirdly, the employee who is going to use a respirator not only must be fit
tested, they must have a medical exam (which is at least a written
questionnaire which must be reviewed by the company doctor, and may require
a hands-on exam depending on the answers provided and on the type of
respirator to be worn) and you, as the employer, must have a written
respiratory protection plan which meets all the requirements in 1910.134.
With the changes in 1910.134 a few years ago, boiler-plate programs are not
sufficient.
Any museum folk contemplating the use of respirators should not guide the
process themselves. Get an industrial hygienist to help you do it
correctly. Those of you who work for City, County, State or Federal
institutions may have a Risk Management Department which can help you with
this.
Again, if the problem is nuisance particulates, you don't fit under the
regulation. Bird droppings, with their attendant risk of parrot fever or
coccidioidiomycosis, warrant the use of a real respirator. Paper masks,
regardless of the make and model, do not provide adequate protection from a
biological hazard.
Rich White, Curator
International Wildlife Museum
formerly Safety and Environmental Manager for Pima County, Ariz
(yes, it is an odd change of career!)
-----Original Message-----
From: Diane Gutenkauf [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2000 12:23 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: respirators was bird droppings
Please note, in the US under OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration) regulations, any employee who is required to wear ANY type
of respirator, including a dust mask, MUST be fit tested prior to using this
equipment.
The OSHA code reference is: 29 CFR 1910.134
Dust masks ARE respirators and are defined in the code at 1910.134(b)
And if you wear a beard you can't wear a respirator--in fact your employer
can legally require you to shave if wearing a respirator is part of your
job.
Your employer is required, by US law, to provide you appropriate training
and fit testing before you use this equipment.
It's for your own good, don't use a respirator with out being fit tested, to
be certain you're being protected, and without having your health checked to
be certain that you can use the thing.
More information is avaliable from several sources but my favorite is
ACTS, (Arts, Crafts, and Theater Safety) <http://www.caseweb.com/acts>
Diane Gutenkauf
The Morton Arboretum
[log in to unmask]
My opinions are my own and do not reflect those of any organization with
which I am affiliated.
On Fri, 8 Dec 2000 12:16:21 -0500, Tom Reitz <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
>PLANNING AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT
>DOON HERITAGE CROSSROADS
>Artifact Cleaning Procedures
>
>Title: Biological Hazards Risk Control Procedure
>Applies to: All Employees and Volunteers
>Revision Date: June 1996
>
>Operating Bird and animal droppings contain biological hazards which
>can be
>Principle: harmful to people. This procedure is intended to provide
> assistance to employees and volunteers in reducing that risk.
>
>Details: Mandatory Work Procedures
>
> Where exposure to biological hazards is expected, workers and
> volunteers are required to wear respiratory protective equipment
> equipped with high efficiency particulate (HEPA) filters.
> Disposable HEPA filter dust masks will be provided by Doon.
> Training on maintenance and fit-testing of the masks will be part
> of the program.
>
> Workers and volunteers must also wear disposable latex or vinyl
> gloves which will be provided by Doon.
>
> If the level of contamination of the artifact is significant,
> goggles are mandatory. In other situations goggles are a
> recommended piece of personal protective equipment. Several
> pairs of goggles will be provided for staff and volunteers to use
> when needed. Proper cleaning of the equipment before and after
> use is imperative and disinfectant wipes will be provided for
> this purpose.
>
> Proper personal hygiene is also very important, and workers and
> volunteers should wash thoroughly after handling artifacts and
> prior to eating or drinking.
>
> Recommended Work Practices
>
> During general handling and cleaning activities where heavy
> accumulations of droppings are NOT present, goggles are a
> recommended piece of personal protective equipment. Heavy
> accumulations of droppings require goggles at all times.
>
> It is recommended that you bring a set of work clothes with you
> to change into while you work and that you change back to your
> street clothes before leaving Doon. Work clothes should be
> washed in hot soapy water with no other clothing. You may wish
> to clean them on site or if you chose to take them home, please
> launder them right away.
> Work Processes
>
> Hard Surfaces (wood & metal)
>
> 1. Remove heaviest contamination with mechanical means, for
> example shovels or scrapers.
>
> 2. Vacuum using a HEPA vacuum.
>
> 3. Final process is to decontaminate the artifact with a
> disinfectant solution*. This can be done through various
> means, which includes, but is not limited to wiping with a
> damp cloth, misting, sponging, etc. The supervisor on site
> can assist you in deciding the correct technique.
>
> Soft Surfaces (leather and textile items)
>
> 1. Gently remove heavy contamination.
>
> 2. Vacuum with a HEPA filtered vacuum and brush lightly.
>
> 3. Spray with a disinfectant solution* and let air dry.
>
>
>*Disinfectant solutions include: dilute hypochlorite solutions (bleach &
>water)
> detergents
> ethyl alcohol, 70%
> General purpose household disinfects
>
> PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT DOON HERITAGE CROSSROADS
> STAFF IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS
>
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