Respirator Safety During Oilfield Servicing Operations

Respiratory safety in the oil field has become an ever-increasing concern. Numerous chemicals are used for well stimulation which present significant health hazards. This paper will outline the necessary elements of a respiratory protection program (RPP). Industrial Hygiene Risk Assessment An effective RPP requires an industrial hygiene risk assessment. The assessment helps to identify various inhalation hazards and point out specific chemicals or processes which pose potential health hazards. This assessment will evaluate handling methods, exposure potential, and chemical characteristics. All chemicals are evaluated and given a hazard rating, an exposure rating, a risk rating, and a risk priority rating. Those chemicals which have a high priority rating must be addressed in the RPP. Written Program The industrial hygiene risk assessment has identified that there is a potential for respiratory exposure to hazardous chemicals so a respiratory protection program must be written and implemented. An effective RPP will address controls, respirator selection, physician certification, training, fit testing, respirator storage, and program evaluation. Controls When protecting employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals through inhalation, first consideration must be given to engineering controls such as ventilation systems or substitution with less toxic chemicals. Many times, engineering controls are not feasible and we must rely on respirator use to protect us from exposure. Respirator Selection We have determined which chemicals pose a threat to our operators so now we must select respirators. The selection of respiratory equipment requires certain questions to be answered: Who will be wearing the respirator?–Who will be maintaining the respirator?–Who will be purchasing the respirators?–Where will they be stored? P. 695^