As an analytical
laboratory, we
operate under the Laboratory Standard 1910.1450 of the OSHA
regulations.
We have excellent engineering controls, and have done monitoring for
the the
atmosphere contaminants that would be of concern. We don’t
meet the OSHA
threshold for any of those.
Now, my toxicology
group wants
to order surgical masks, and since 1910.134 defines a
“respirator”
as:
Filtering
facepiece (dust mask) means a negative
pressure
particulate respirator with a filter as an integral part of the
facepiece
or with the entire facepiece composed of the filtering medium
(emphasis
added).
In light of the above
definition, I am forced to ask: is a surgical mask considered a
‘respirator’? Do I now need to document a) that
there is no condition
which requires use of
a
respirator/surgical mask/form of protection in the toxicology section
and b)
that if not, all of the toxicologists are also trained in accordance
with
Appendix D to 1910.134?
************** D i s
c l a i m e r ***************
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