Respiratory Protection Program
What is a respiratory protection program ?
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The aim of the Respiratory protection program is to prevent you from inhaling air contaminated with harmful particles, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, vapors, or sprays, and thus to prevent illness.
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Why do you need it ?
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If you are issuing respirators to workers as a control measure for protection against hazardous substances then you are required to implement a Respiratory Protection
Program (AS/NZS1715, Section 2).
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The respiratory standard, AS/NZS1715, Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment (Appendix D) provides a checklist of the elements of a programme. Some of the elements require specialist services but the majority of the program is developed and maintained in-house.
Minimum Elements of a Respiratory Protection Programme:
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Employer responsibility outlined
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Documented policies and procedures (includes medical screening)
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Appointment of administrator
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Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) selection process
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Training
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Issue of equipment
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Fit testing
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Cleaning
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Storage
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Inspection, maintenance and repair
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Record keeping
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Audit program
HSL can assist you with any of these elements or the implementation of the complete program.
Some of our services are listed below:
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Train your in-house program administrator
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Assist in the respirator selection process
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Organize exposure monitoring of hazardous substances & assist with the report recommendations
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Conduct lung function testing
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Train workers on fit, use, cleaning, inspection and storage of their respirator
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Conduct or organize respiratory fit testing
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Deliver qualitative fit tester training for in-house management
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Assist with program documentation
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Program audit
Hearing Protection Program
What is a hearing protection program ?
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It is a comprehensive program of activities and processes with the aim of protecting worker’s hearing.
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Why is it useful ?
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It helps businesses to assess their current noise conservation practices against a minimum standard. From here they can prioritize required interventions and plan budgets.
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Why is it important?
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The main reason being the protection of your workers hearing. There are also noise regulations, standards and guides you should be aware of
(see resources below) however the program is comprehensive and very helpful to meet many of your health and safety responsibilities as a PCBU.
Minimum Elements of a Hearing Protection Program :
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Preliminary & detailed noise assessments;
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Noise control - engineering and administrative controls;
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Hearing protection devices (HPD) selection and training;
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Audiometry (hearing tests);
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General worker training on the elements of the program
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Written roles and responsibilities;
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Program Review;
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Record keeping;
When should you implement a program ?
When workplace noise levels are excessive, i.e. exceed an exposure level of, LAeq,8h, of 85 dB(A); and a peak noise level, Lpeak, of 140 dB. At these levels your workers hearing is at risk of permanent damage and will require careful management, selection of suitable hearing protection, training and monitoring to protect their hearing health.
Resources :
Health and Safety at Work Act, 2015, Health and Safety in Employment Regulations 1995, AS/NZS 1269,
Approved Code of Practice for the Management of Noise in the Workplace.