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Maintenance, Inspection and Care of Respirators 1. The company shall ensure that respirators are cleaned and disinfected using procedures recommended by the respirator manufacturer, provided that such procedures are of equivalent effectiveness to OSHA regulations. The respirators shall be cleaned and disinfected at the following intervals: • Respirators issued for the exclusive use of an employee shall be cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition; • Respirators issued to more than one employee shall be cleaned and disinfected before being worn by different individuals; • Respirators maintained for emergency use shall be cleaned and disinfected after each use;and • Respirators used in fit testing and training shall be cleaned and disinfected after each use. 2. All respirators shall be stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals, and they shall be packed or stored to prevent deformation of the face piece and exhalation valve. 3. Emergency respirators shall be: • Kept accessible to the work area; • Stored in compartments or in covers that are clearly marked as containing emergency respirators;and • Stored in accordance with any applicable manufacturer instructions. 4. All respirators used in routine situations shall be inspected before each use and during cleaning; 5. All respirators maintained for use in emergency situations shall be inspected at least monthly and in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations,and shall be checked for proper function before and after each use;and 6. Emergency escape-only respirators shall be inspected before being carried into the workplace for use. 7. The company shall ensure that respirator inspections include the following: • A check of respirator function, tightness of connections, and the condition of the various parts including, but not limited to,the face piece, head straps,valves,connecting tube, and cartridges, canisters or filters;and • A check of elastomeric parts for pliability and signs of deterioration. 8. In addition to the requirements above,self-contained breathing apparatus shall be inspected monthly. 9. Air and oxygen cylinders shall be maintained in a fully charged state and shall be recharged when the pressure falls to 90% of the manufacturer's recommended pressure level. The employer shall determine that the regulator and warning devices function properly. 10. For respirators maintained for emergency use,the company shall: • Certify the respirator by documenting the date the inspection was performed,the name (or signature)of the person who made the inspection, the findings, required remedial action, and a serial number or other means of identifying the inspected respirator;and • Provide this information on a tag or label that is attached to the storage compartment for the respirator, is kept with the respirator, or is included in inspection reports stored as paper or electronic files. This information shall be maintained until replaced following a subsequent certification. 70