Creating and implementing a respiratory protection program can be a complex and challenging task, from exposure assessments to respirator selection to fit testing, a written respiratory protection program has multiple requirements that companies must meet. To help health and safety managers find the resources they need to develop and implement a successful respiratory protection program, 3M™ Personal Safety Division has launched the 3M Center for Respiratory Protection, an online resource that can help companies navigate the requirements of an OSHA respiratory protection program.

“When respirators are used in a workplace, OSHA requires companies to establish and maintain a written respiratory protection plan. A comprehensive and effective plan isn’t something that can be downloaded from the Internet. An effective program needs to be tailored to the individual needs of the users at each worksite,” said Scott Larson respiratory protection technical services manager of 3M Personal Safety Division. “With the 3M Center for Respiratory Protection, 3M’s technical service specialists summarize key points that those responsible for worker health and safety need to know to help establish and maintain a successful respiratory protection program. The 3M Center for Respiratory Protection also provides the tools to help employers as they put a program in place.”

3M Center for Respiratory Protection outlines general steps to help guide users as they work to create and maintain a respiratory protection program. The eight steps include:

• Exposure Assessment
• Respiratory Selection
• Medical Evaluations
• Fit Testing
• Respirator Training
• Respirator Maintenance
• Program Evaluation
• Recordkeeping

These steps are a summary of requirements and are based on the OSHA requirements; the 3M website provides articles, videos, tool kits, fast facts, and more, all created or curated by respiratory protection technical service specialists at 3M.

“As health and safety professionals we aim to provide professionals with respiratory protection knowledge and tools that they need to help protect themselves and their workers,” said Scott Larson, “This new online resource provides an outlet for 3M to present valuable information, and a place that helps make it easier for our customers to select and use respiratory protection correctly.  As we continue to help employers protect the respiratory health of their workers across the globe, the 3M Center for Respiratory Protection will prove to be a helpful way for us to disseminate information to those who are in need of it.”

To learn more about respiratory safety, please visit: www.3m.com/respiratorycenter.  To speak to a 3M specialist about a particular safety issue or training need, please call 1-800-328-1667.

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