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>> This video will illustrate how
to properly wear personal protective equipment or PPE,
to protect against illicit drugs, including fentanyl.
NIOSH has identified three levels of potential exposure.
Minimal, moderate and high
Exposure levels are defined as follows.
Minimal exposure situation.
Response to a situation where it is suspected that illicit
fentanyl or other illicit drugs may be present but no drugs are visible.
In this situation, NIOSH recommends that you wear
nitrile gloves.
Moderate exposure situation.
Response to a situation where small amounts
of illicit fentanyl or other illicit drugs are visible.
In this situation, NIOSH recommends that you wear nitrile gloves,
arm protection, a disposable N, P or R100 filtering face piece
respirator or a reusable elastomeric N, P or R100
respirator and protective eyewear.
Response to a situation where liquid fentanyl
or large amounts of fentanyl products are visible.
In this situation, NIOSH recommends
responders do not enter the area.
Entry into these situations requires additional
PPE and training per your department's policy.
The following are some general instructions
for properly donning, conducting a user seal check
and doffing the two most common types of respirators used
to protect against illicit drugs.
You should always follow the manufacturer's instructions
for the specific respirator model that you are using.
A fit test verifies that the respirator fits you correctly.
It must be performed before you wear a respirator
for the first time and at least yearly after that.
You should perform a user seal check each time you don
a respirator.
A user seal check is a way
to verify the respirator is positioned on your face
to assure a proper seal.
Your department will provide you with a NIOSH approved respirator
after completing the required medical clearance,
fit testing and training.
As a responder, you can wear glasses, a hat,
a body cam that mounts on your head or around your head
and a radio that may use an earbud.
Remove these items and anything else that may come
between you and the respirator.
There should be nothing under the respirator
or the respirator straps that can interfere
with the respirator seal.
If you have facial hair that comes
between the sealing surface of the face piece and your face,
or that interferes with the valve function,
you shouldn't wear the tight fitting respirators described
in this video.
Discuss alternative respiratory protection options
with your department.
The following are general instructions
for correctly donning, conducting a user seal check
and doffing a disposable N, P or R,
100 filtering face piece respirator.
Before starting the donning process, inspect the respirator,
including the straps, for tears or damage.
If you find any damage to the respirator, do not use it.
Replace it with a new one.
Next, remove anything that may come
between you and the respirator.
Using one hand, place the respirator on your face,
with the nose piece at your fingertips,
allowing the head bands to hang freely.
The nose piece should span and cover the bridge of your nose.
And the respirator should cup your chin.
Pull the bottom strap over your head,
resting it around your neck
and below your ears and adjust the strap.
Pull the top strap over your head and position it high,
at the back of your head and adjust the strap.
When adjusting the straps, be careful not
to over-tighten the respirator to your face and be sure not
to criss-cross the straps.
Make sure that your mouth
and nose are covered by the respirator.
If the respirator has a metal nose piece or strip,
use both hands to mold the strip to conform to the shape
of your nose by pushing inward while moving your fingertips
down along both sides of the nose piece.
After donning your respirator,
carefully replace other items you wear on your head.
These items should go on top of your respirator
and should not push on the respirator to deform it
so they did not interfere with the respirator seal.
Next, perform a negative pressure user seal check
by placing both hands over the respirator
and taking a quick breath in,
to see if the respirator collapses slightly.
If you do not feel air leak between your face
and the respirator seal, a proper seal has been made.
Don the additional PPE that is required, such as your gloves
and proceed with your work.
If you feel leakage between your face and the respirator seal,
there's not a proper seal.
If air leaks around the nose, readjust the nose piece.
If air leaks at the mask edges, readjust the straps
and reposition the respirator on your face.
After readjusting the respirator,
you should check the seal again.
If you cannot achieve a proper seal due to air leakage,
you are not protected and should not enter a hazardous area.
See your supervisor to determine the problem.
If your respirator accidentally comes off in a hazardous area,
exit the area and follow your department's procedures
for reentering.
Once you have exited the scene and are in a clean environment,
you should remove your PPE as follows.
Start by removing your gloves and placing them in a labeled,
durable 6 mil, polyethylene bag.
Then remove anything that is on top of your respirator.
Next, carefully remove the respirator,
without touching the front of it, as it may be contaminated.
Reach behind your head and pull the bottom strap forward,
followed by the top strap.
Place the contaminated single use respirator in a labeled,
durable 6 mil polyethylene bag.
Dispose of single use PPE according
to your department's procedures.
Do not save or reuse the respirator or gloves.
After removing your respirator,
you should immediately wash your hands before touching other
items or yourself.
Do not use hand sanitizer.
Now, let's explore the general instructions
for correctly donning, conducting a user seal check
and doffing a half face piece, elastomeric respirator.
These are just general instructions.
You should always follow the manufacturer's instructions
for the specific respirator model that you are using.
Before starting the donning process, inspect the respirator,
including the straps, valves and gaskets for loose,
missing or damaged parts.
If you find any damage
to the respirator, repair or replace it.
Next, remove anything that may come
between you and the respirator.
Then pull the bottom strap over your head.
Place the respirator face piece
under your chin and over your nose.
Pull the head harness over the crown of your head
and adjust its placement, until it is stable but comfortable.
Be sure that the neck strap is flat and smooth
against the back of your neck.
Adjust the neck strap but be careful not
to over-tighten the respirator to your face.
After donning your respirator,
carefully replace items you wear on your head.
These items should go on top of your respirator
and should not push on the respirator, to deform it,
so they do not interfere with the respirator seal.
Next, perform a positive pressure user seal check.
Place the palm of your hand over the exhalation valve outlet.
Exhale gently and hold your breath to create
and maintain a slight positive pressure inside the face piece.
If the face piece bulges slightly
and no air leaks are detected between your face
and the face piece, you have passed the positive pressure
seal check.
If, on the other hand, you detect a face seal leak,
readjust the straps
and reposition the respirator on your face.
After adjusting the respirator, you should check the seal again.
Next, perform a negative pressure seal check.
Cover the respirator cartridges or filters with the palms
of your hands and inhale gently.
If you feel the face piece collapse and pull closer
to your face with no leaks between your face
and the face piece, you have passed the negative pressure
seal check.
If you detect air leakage, readjust the straps
and reposition the respirator on your face.
After adjusting the respirator, you should check the seal again.
If you cannot achieve a proper seal, you are not protected
and should not enter a hazardous area.
See your supervisor to determine the problem.
If you passed both the positive
and negative pressure seal checks, you have a proper seal.
Don additional PPE that is required, such as your gloves
and proceed with your work.
If your respirator accidentally comes off in a hazardous area,
exit the area and follow your department's procedures
for reentering.
Once you have exited the scene and are in a clean environment,
you should remove your PPE as follows.
Start by changing into a clean pair of gloves.
This will keep you from becoming contaminated.
Now, with the new clean gloves, use your hands
to remove anything on top of the respirator.
Next, carefully loosen the straps and remove the respirator
by grabbing the front of the respirator.
Remove the cartridges or filters and place them in a labeled,
durable 6 mil polyethylene bag.
Place the reusable portion of the respirator
in a separate labeled, durable 6 mil polyethylene bag
until it is properly cleaned.
Follow your department's procedures for disposing
of single use PPE and maintaining reusable PPE,
including proper cleaning, disinfecting and storage.
After removing your respirator,
you should immediately wash your hands before touching other
items or yourself.
Do not use hand sanitizer.
Remember, PPE must be used in accordance
with OSHA regulations, including the PPE
and respiratory protection standards.
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