The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is requesting comments on a revision to the existing Respiratory Protection Standard to add definitions and specific requirements for assigned protection factors and maximum use concentrations.
Proposed revisions also would supersede the respirator selection provisions of existing substance-specific standards with these new assigned protection factors (except the factors for the 1,3-Butadiene Standard). Comments will be accepted until Sept 4, 2003, according to OSHA.
The agency also is proposing a new testing protocol for controlled negative pressure (CNP), which requires three different test exercises followed by two redonnings of the respirator. The current CNP protocol specifies eight test exercises, including one redonning of the respirator.
For more information, access the Federal Register web site at www.regulations.gov/.