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Occupational Safety & Health Unit
Respiratory Protection Program
Due to the unique mission and operating environments of the departments and special agencies within Sonoma County there are some limited situations in which employees must work in environments with insufficient oxygen or where harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, fumes, gases, vapors, or sprays are present.
In regards to Respiratory Protection, the primary objective is for the department to develop work practices that, as far as feasible by accepted engineering control measures (for example, enclosure or confinement of the operation, general and local ventilation, and substitution of less toxic materials), prevents atmospheric contamination. When effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted, appropriate respirators are required to protect the health of the employee
Respirators which are applicable and suitable for the purpose intended must be provided by the department directing the work, when such equipment is necessary. Additionally, the department directing work shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a respiratory protection program.
Using a respirator may place a physiological burden on employees that varies with the type of respirator worn, the job and workplace conditions in which the respirator is used, and the medical status of the employee. Accordingly, a medical evaluation, in addition to an equipment specific fit test, is required initially and re-certification annually to determine the employee's ability to safely use a respirator prior to donning any equipment.
To get more information on the applicability of this program for a specific County operation please contact the corresponding departmental Safety Coordinator.
For further information on specific regulatory guidelines please refer to the link(s) below.
Cal-OSHA Respiratory Protection Regulations