EHSers,

I recently inherited our SCBA program and had a few questions.  While not mentioned in OSHA's respiratory protection program, NFPA does require flow-testing for all SCBA units.  Since NFPA and the manufacturer both require this, I am reasonably assuming that it then falls under the OSHA general duty clause.

I was just curious as to how many of my sister institutions are annually flow testing their SCBA units and if they purchased the equipment to do so in-house or use outside companies?  I am already using outside companies to hydrostatically test my cylinders to get them up to date and I am using the cascade system at our fire house to fill them.

We currently have Survivair Puma/Cougar units.

Thanks for your input.

Brandon S. Chance, M.S., CCHO

Program Manager, Chemical Safety

Environmental Health and Safety

Princeton University

262 Alexander Street

Princeton, NJ 08540

609-258-7882 (office)

609-955-1289 (mobile)

609-258-1804 (fax)

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