Respiratory Protection Program

Program Elements

• Medical Evaluation

  Employees who are either required to wear respirators, or who choose to wear an APR voluntarily, must pass a medical exam before being permitted to wear a respirator on the job. Employees are not permitted to wear respirators until a physician has determined that they are medically able to do so. Any employee refusing the medical evaluation will not be allowed to work in an area requiring respirator use.

  Medical evaluations will be performed by a physician or licensed health care professional, PLHCP. Medical evaluation procedures are as follows:

  • The medical evaluation will be conducted using the questionnaire provided in Appendix C of the respiratory protection standard. The Program Administrator will provide a copy of this questionnaire to all employees requiring medical evaluations.
    
    
  • Employees who are unable to read the questionnaire will be sent directly to the PLHCP's office for the medical evaluation.
    
    
  • All affected employees will be given a copy of the medical questionnaire to fill out, along with a stamped and addressed envelope for mailing the questionnaire to the PLHCP. Employees will be allowed to fill out the questionnaire during work time.
    
    
  • Follow-up medical exams will be granted to employees as required by the standard, and/or as deemed necessary by the PLHCP.
    
    
  • All employees will be granted the opportunity to speak with the PLHCP about their medical evaluation if they so request.
    
    
  • The Program Administrator has provided the PLHCP with a copy of this program, a copy of the Respiratory Protection standard, the list of hazardous substances by work area, and for each employee requiring evaluation: his or her work areas or job title, proposed respirator type, and weight, length of time required to wear the respirator, expected physical work load (light, moderate, or heavy), potential temperature and humidity extremes, and any additional protective clothing required.
    
    
  • Any employee required for medical reasons to wear a positive pressure air purifying respirator, PAPR, will be provided with one.
    
    
  • After an employee has received clearance and begun to wear his or her respirator, additional medical evaluations will be provided under the following circumstances:
    
    
    • Employee reports signs and/or symptoms related to their ability to use a respirator, such as shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pains, or wheezing.
    • The PLHCP or the employee's supervisor informs the Program Administrator that the employee needs to be reevaluated.
    • Information from this program, including observations made during fit testing and program evaluation, indicates a need for reevaluation.
    • A change occurs in workplace conditions that may result in an increased physiological burden on the employee.
      
      

  A list of MTU employees currently included in medical surveillance is maintained in the Occupational Safety and Health Services office. All examinations and questionnaires are to remain confidential between the employee and the PLHCP.