SafeLane | Training & Prevention | Respiratory Protection Program

Welcome to the SafeLane portal for Lane Community College’s Respiratory Protection Program. This program ensures that all LCC employees are protected from airborne hazards in compliance with Oregon OSHA 1910.134.

Program Overview

While LCC prioritizes engineering controls like ventilation and material substitution, respirators are provided when these methods are insufficient to protect staff from chemical hazards or during emergencies.

 Roles and Responsibilities

  • Program Administrator (OSHA Compliance Coordinator): Evaluates hazards, selects equipment, manages fit testing, and maintains records.
  • Managers: Ensure employees receive training and medical evaluations; monitor work areas for hazards.
  • Employees: Wear respirators as trained, maintain equipment, and report hazards or fit issues to supervisors.

Key Requirements for Certification

Here is the simplified guide to getting certified for respirator use at LCC:

1. Required Use (Standard Hazards)

  • IF your job involves respiratory hazards which are not entirely controlled:
  • Final Step: The Program Administrator must have all your paperwork on file before you start.

2. Wildfire Smoke (AQI 251–500)

  • IF outdoor air quality is poor (AQI 251–500) and you are required to wear an N95:
    • Training: You must complete training on N95 use and wildfire hazards.
    • Exemptions: You do not need a medical evaluation or a formal fit test for this specific situation.

3. Voluntary Use (Personal Comfort)

  • IF you choose to wear a Dust Mask, KN95 or N95 just for comfort:
    • Form: You must read and sign OSHA Appendix D via Etrieve at this link.
    • Exemptions: No medical clearance or fit testing is required.
  • IF you choose to wear an Elastomeric (Cartridge) mask for comfort:
    • Medical: You must get a physician's clearance and pay for the evaluation yourself.
    • Form: You must read and sign OSHA Appendix D via Etrieve at this link.
    • Exemptions: Fit testing is not required.

4. No-Entry Zones (IDLH)

  • IF an area has unknown toxins, low oxygen (<19.5%), or is a permit-required confined space:
    • 🛑 STOP: Entry is strictly prohibited.
    • Permission: Only authorized Emergency Response Team (ERT) members may enter these areas.

 

Medical Evaluations & Fit Testing

All required users and voluntary users of elastomeric masks must be determined medically fit by a Licensed Health Care Professional (LHCP) before use.

  • Provider: All evaluations are conducted through Cascade Health.
  • Privacy: Medical questionnaires are confidential; only the "Fit-to-Wear" certificate is shared with LCC.
  • Fit Testing: Conducted annually. Re-testing is required if you change respirator models or experience significant physical changes (e.g., dental work or weight fluctuation).

Standard Operating Procedures

  • Facial Hair: Employees are strictly prohibited from having facial hair (such as beards, long sideburns, or stubble) that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face, or that interferes with valve function. Note: If an employee cannot shave for religious or medical reasons, or has been pre-approved by the Program Administrator, LCC will evaluate the use of alternatives which may not require a tight face-to-facepiece seal.
  • User Seal Check: Must be performed every time the mask is put on.
  • Storage: Respirators must be stored in a clean, dry, air-tight container (like a plastic bag) labeled with the employee's name.
  • Cleaning: Use warm water and disinfectant wipes; air dry in a clean area.

Prohibited Activities (IDLH)

LCC employees are strictly prohibited from entering atmospheres Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH). This includes:

  • Confined space entry.
  • Oxygen-deficient atmospheres (<19.5%).
  • Suspected asbestos disturbances.
  • Emergency chemical spill cleanups (unless you are authorized ERT).

Wildfire Smoke Compliance

LCC follows a tiered approach based on the Air Quality Index (AQI):

  • AQI 101–250: N95 use is voluntary.
  • AQI 251–500: N95 use is required. Employees are exempt from medical evaluations and fit testing for this specific scenario.
  • AQI 501+: Full fit testing and certification are mandatory.

Resources & Forms

Hazard Certifications

Related Policies and Procedures

The Respiratory Protection Program is designed to work in conjunction with other Lane Community College safety and operational policies and procedures. Where requirements overlap, the more protective standard shall apply.

Primary Safety Intersections

Regulatory Standards

Environmental and Facilities Policies

Emergency and Medical Protocols

Administrative Standards