Section 296-850-135 - Respiratory protection(1)General. The employer must provide respiratory protection at no cost to the employee and ensure that each employee uses respiratory protection: (a) During periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work practice controls where airborne exposure exceeds, or can reasonably be expected to exceed, the TWA PEL or STEL;(b) During operations, including maintenance and repair activities and nonroutine tasks, when engineering and work practice controls are not feasible and airborne exposure exceeds, or can reasonably be expected to exceed, the TWA PEL or STEL;(c) During operations for which an employer has implemented all feasible engineering and work practice controls when such controls are not sufficient to reduce airborne exposure to or below the TWA PEL or STEL;(d) During emergencies; and(e) When an employee who is eligible for medical removal under WAC 296-850-160(1) chooses to remain in a job with airborne exposure at or above the action level, as permitted by WAC 296-850-160(2)(b).(2)Respiratory protection program. Where this standard requires an employer to provide respiratory protection, the selection and use of such respiratory protection must be in accordance with chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators.(3) The employer must provide at no cost to the employee a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) instead of a negative pressure respirator when: (a) Respiratory protection is required by this standard;(b) An employee entitled to such respiratory protection requests a PAPR; and(c) The PAPR provides adequate protection to the employee in accordance with subsection (2) of this section, respiratory protection program of this rule.Wash. Admin. Code § 296-850-135
Adopted by WSR 18-17-156, Filed 8/21/2018, effective 12/12/2018