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Respiratory Safety
Our respiratory safety training program includes:
Compsolve creates a tailored respiratory protection plan for your facility. This program outlines the procedures, policies, and equipment necessary to manage respiratory hazards effectively and ensure OSHA compliance.
Our in-depth training session educates employees on the proper selection, use, and maintenance of respiratory protection equipment, such as masks and respirators. Employees will also learn about the health risks associated with airborne contaminants and the importance of maintaining a clean, safe work environment. Each session includes a Q&A to ensure employee understanding and engagement.
We provide fit testing services to ensure that all respiratory equipment fits employees properly, maximizing protection and compliance with OSHA standards.
Comprehensive documentation of training sessions is provided, including sign-in sheets, trainer qualifications, and a summary of the material covered.
These are forms provided by Compsolve for your employees to take to their physician to ensure that they are medically cleared to wear respirators. Mandatory by law.
Compsolve’s respiratory safety training program
is designed to empower employees with the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves from respiratory hazards. Contact us today to learn more about how our respiratory safety training services can help your business create a safer, healthier workplace while achieving OSHA compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. OSHA requires three things before an employee puts on a tight-fitting respirator:
- Medical Evaluation: A doctor must clear you to ensure your heart and lungs can handle the extra effort of breathing through a filter.
- Fit Testing: A specialized test to ensure the mask actually seals to your face.
- Training: Learning how to clean, store, and inspect the mask.
A "dust mask" (single-strap) is usually for non-toxic nuisance dust and isn't NIOSH-approved. An N95 (two-straps) is a true respirator that filters of airborne particles.
Note: N95s protect against particles (dust, mist, fumes) but provide zero protection against gases or vapors (like paint thinner or carbon monoxide).
No. If you are wearing a "tight-fitting" respirator (like an N95 or a rubber half-face mask), you must be clean-shaven where the mask seals to the skin. Even a day’s worth of stubble creates microscopic gaps that allow contaminated air to bypass the filter.
You should perform a User Seal Check every time you put the mask on:
- Positive Pressure: Block the exhale valve and blow out gently. The mask should bulge slightly without leaking.
- Negative Pressure: Block the filters and inhale. The mask should collapse slightly against your face.
- Particulate filters: Change them when they become damaged, soiled, or it becomes noticeably harder to breathe.
- Chemical cartridges: Change them according to the manufacturer’s schedule or if you begin to smell or taste the contaminant (this is called "breakthrough").
If the air is technically safe but an employee wants to wear a dust mask for comfort, it’s called "voluntary use." The employer doesn't have to do fit testing, but they must provide the employee with "Appendix D" of the OSHA standard, which explains how to use the mask safely.
Never hang it by the straps or leave it out on a dusty workbench. Respirators should be cleaned after use and stored in a sealed bag or container in a cool, dry place. This prevents the rubber from deforming and keeps the filters from "working" by soaking up ambient dust while sitting on a shelf.