Lessons Learned Database



Title:

Odorous Full-Face Respirators

Identifier:

2001-707/776/777PROJECT-01

Date:

2001-10-05

Lesson Learned Statement:

Always perform a complete pre-use inspection before donning your respirator. If you smell an irritating odor coming from the respirator, reseal it along with the laundry date tag in the bag it came in, and turn it over to your Industrial Hygiene and Safety (IH&S) representative.

Discussion:

Several decommissioning workers in the Building 707/776/777 Closure Project at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (RFETS) recently encountered full-face respirators that reeked of a strong, irritating odor. At this time source of the odors is under investigation. The description and initial testing indicate that it may be formaldehyde or a similar chemical.

Analysis:

Site Respiratory Protection Advisory Committee members, including Steelworkers Union and K-H Occupational Safety and Industrial Hygiene representatives have gone to the off-site laundering facility to investigate how site respirators are washed, handled and distributed to find the source of the odor. The members have concluded that the potential chemical irritating odor may be associated with a specific lot of Mine Safety Appliance (MSA) high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) canisters. The suspect canisters are identified with lot number 3201 on the canister. Approximately sixty full-face respirators have been removed from service pending further analyses and additional discussions with the manufacturer.

Recommended Actions:

RFETS Industrial Hygiene representatives have been asked to check their inventories and remove any respirators with this lot number. If you have questions regarding this issue, please contact our Site Respiratory Protection Program Administrator, Douglas Herrick at (303) 966-5470.

Originator:

James McLaughlin, Sr. (303) 966-3471

Validator:

None provided.

Contact:

Douglas Herrick (303) 966-5470

Name Of Authorized Derivative Classifier:

Richard Norman (303) 966-8297

Name Of Reviewing Official:

Kenneth E. Green (303) 966-5689

Priority Descriptor:

Yellow / Caution

Keywords:

Odor, Respirator, Filter

References:

Occurrence Report: RFO--KHLL-SITEWIDE-2001-000
Information in this report is accurate to the best of our knowledge. As means of measuring the effectiveness of this report please use the "Comment" link at the bottom of this page to notify the Lessons Learned Web Site Administrator of any action taken as a result of this report or of any technical inaccuracies you find. Your feedback is important and appreciated.

DOE Function / Work Categories:

Occupational Safety & Health - Personnel Protective Equipment

ISM Category:

Analyze Hazards

Hazard:

Personal Injury / Exposure - Hazardous Material (General)

End of Lesson!

|| Home || Documents and Information | Links | Contacts | Security Notice ||