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Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Respirator physicals?
Date: Monday, August 10, 2020 at 7:05:23 PM
Author: Monona Rossol <0000030664c37427-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU> 		Next by Date:
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Respirator physicals?
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2020 13:32:03 +0000
Author: Yaritza Brinker

From: Roger McClellan <roger.o.mcclellan**At_Symbol_Here**att.net>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Respirator physicals?
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2020 00:01:57 +0000
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: 869064130.3343.1597104117213**At_Symbol_Here**mail.yahoo.com
In-Reply-To <000001d66f64$01ab13d0$05013b70$**At_Symbol_Here**rochester.rr.com>


Joe:

 I am uncertain of the basis for  rules that curtail important services at a time when they are most needed.

Decades ago I was faced with a ridiculous situation that pushed me to take drastic action for a research laboratory, the Lovelace Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute in Albuquerque, NM.  ITRI had 225 to 250 employees including about 40 doctoral staff and was funded by the US Department of Energy My solution was to replace our RN with a Nurse Practitioner  and conduct all medical exams in an on site clinic. Previously, the medical exams had been conducted off  site by an MD at our health care providers clinic. The on site exams included spirometric assessments on all employees irrespective of whether their work involved masks or more elaborate protective gear. As an aside , we worked with Plutonium and other nasty materials as aerosols . (As an aside, an aerosol is a relatively stable suspension of particles and/or droplets in a gaseous media, a definition lost in the current Covid-19 crisis.) 

The spirometry results helped convince a lot of individuals to quit smoking. Employees really liked the NP  and I still cross paths with former employees who relate that medical conditions, not work related, but identified in the on site clinic had huge impact on their health.   I had a highly qualified Occupational MD provide oversight for a few hours a month. The on site NP worked closely with our Health and Environmental Safety Unit staffed with two professionals (with lots of training and credientals) and three technicians. The Head of our Health and Safety unit had authority that included lock down of any laboratory or operation irrespective of the rank of the staff responsible for the lab.. Technicians were eager to get on the Institute's  Health And Safety Committee and be part of the Institute's overall health and safety efforts.

I am disappointed when I learn the limited authority many CHAS members have in their academic positions.

Best regards,
   Roger O. McClellan





On Monday, August 10, 2020, 04:28:17 PM MDT, pzavon**At_Symbol_Here**ROCHESTER.RR.COM <pzavon**At_Symbol_Here**rochester.rr.com> wrote:


Look more closely at the OSHA regulation on this. Most people can be adequately assessed by using a questionnaire, a clunky example of which is in that regulatory appendix, if I recall correctly.


Peter Zavon, CIH
Penfield, NY

PZAVON**At_Symbol_Here**Rochester.rr.com



-----Original Message-----
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of DCHAS Membership Chair
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2020 4:55 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Respirator physicals?

From: Joseph Peters <joseph.peters**At_Symbol_Here**technipfmc.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2020 20:06:57 +0000
Re: Respirator physicals?

We are currently trying to qualify two of our employees for respirator use.

All of our employees who are required to use respirators have had physicals (including spirometry) to ensure that they are physically able to use an Air Purifying Respirator (APR) and SCBA.  Once they pass the physical, they are fit tested and trained on the proper use and care of the respiratory equipment.

We scheduled appoints with our occupational safety and health provider and were told that they are not allowed to conduct spirometry evaluations at this time due to COVID restrictions.

Have any members of the group experienced this and if so, how were they able to certify employees for respirator use in the absence of spirometry?

BTW, we are located in Massachusetts.

Joe


Joseph C. Peters, PE
Senior Director - Process Technology |  Technip Energies P  +1 781 340 2901  |  M  +1 617 620 7120 Joseph.peters**At_Symbol_Here**technipfmc.com

TechnipFMC
56 Woodrock Road |  E. Weymouth, MA |  02189 TechnipFMC.com

This email has been sent by or on behalf of TechnipFMC plc, a company registered in England and Wales with registered no. 09909709, and with its registered office address at One St. Paul's Churchyard, London, EC4M 8AP, or one of its subsidiaries.

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