Gently pull on the seal to ensure it hasn’t started to weaken, tear, or pull away from the faceplate. Next you’ll want to run your fingers over it to search for tears or cracks in the seal and where the seal meets the rest of the respirator. The face seal is one of the most important parts of a gas mask because it is designed to seal to your face and block hazardous fumes or particulates. The following is the step-by-step process for inspecting your gas mask. What to look for when inspecting a gas mask or respirator: That means it should be clean and well-lit so that everything is visible and manageable. Your workspace should be spacious enough to allow for all the parts of the respirator as you disassemble. Don’t rush-give yourself adequate time to conduct a thorough inspection. What Not to Do When Cleaning and Storing Respiratorsīefore starting the process of cleaning respirators, you’ll first want to inspect their condition by disassembling the entire mask and carefully looking over each part. TABLE OF CONTENTSīest Practices for Disposing of an Overexposed Gas Mask That means that understanding the process and committing to it is well worth the effort. The risk to life and limb is real if you do not inspect, clean, and decontaminate your gas mask. This is a guide for decontaminating and cleaning respirators, including the correct processes for inspecting, washing and decontaminating your gas mask. The more you know about the various parts of your mask, the better prepared you will be to use it.Įxposure to a simple CBRN threat like CS gas affects your mask very differently than massive exposure to radioactive fallout. Like all pieces of life-saving equipment, you’ll need to know how to clean and maintain it.Īs such, knowing how to completely disassemble and reassemble your mask is vital for proper maintenance and cleaning. Test the respirator to ensure that all components work properly.Without question, your gas mask is an integral part of your CBRN preparedness plan.īut simply owning a mask is hardly enough to survive the next disaster. Reassemble facepiece, replacing filters, cartridges, and canisters where necessary. Components should be hand-dried with a clean lint-free cloth or air-dried. In addition, some disinfectants may cause deterioration of rubber or corrosion of metal parts if not completely removed.į. Detergents or disinfectants that dry on facepieces may result in dermatitis. The importance of thorough rinsing cannot be overemphasized. Rinse components thoroughly in clean, warm (43 ☌ maximum), preferably running water. Other commercially available cleansers of equivalent disinfectant quality when used as directed, if their use is recommended or approved by the respirator manufacturer.Į. Aqueous solution of iodine (50 ppm iodine) made by adding approximately 0.8 milliliters of tincture of iodine (6-8 grams ammonium and/or potassium iodide/100 cc of 45% alcohol) to one liter of water at 43 ☌ (110 ☏) or,ģ. Hypochlorite solution (50 ppm of chlorine) made by adding approximately one milliliter of laundry bleach to one liter of water at 43 ☌ (110 ☏) or,Ģ. When the cleaner used does not contain a disinfecting agent, respirator components should be immersed for two minutes in one of the following:ġ. A stiff bristle (not wire) brush may be used to facilitate the removal of dirt.Ĭ. Wash components in warm (43 ☌ maximum) water with a mild detergent or with a cleaner recommended by the manufacturer. Disassemble facepieces by removing speaking diaphragms, demand and pressure-demand valve assemblies, hoses, or any components recommended by the manufacturer. Remove filters, cartridges, or canisters. Equivalent effectiveness simply means that the procedures used must accomplish the objectives set forth in appendix B-2, i.e., must ensure that the respirator is properly cleaned and disinfected in a manner that prevents damage to the respirator and does not cause harm to the user.Ī. They are general in nature, and the employer as an alternative may use the cleaning recommendations provided by the manufacturer of the respirators used by their employees, provided such procedures are as effective as those listed here in appendix B-2. These procedures are provided for employer use when cleaning respirators. Appendix B-2 to § 1910.134: Respirator Cleaning Procedures (Mandatory)
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