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NJ CAR Safety Tip: Body Shop Respirator Safety

May 24, 2016

NJ CAR is committed to helping dealers develop a workplace safety culture that becomes second nature. Don’t wait until an accident happens to focus on safety. You can reduce the chance of injury and protect your bottom line with simple, common-sense changes.

Employees should be trained in the proper use and maintenance of respirators to avoid serious injury to their health. Employees working with hazardous chemicals must also be trained on OSHA Hazardous Communications and The Global Harmonized System, so they know how to use chemicals safely and what specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required, such as, choosing the right type of respirator when working with certain chemicals.

Depending on the chemicals used or the conditions created by performing a certain task (i.e., sanding, welding, buffing or grinding), there are several different types of respirators that serve specific purposes:

Filtered Face Pieces: Generally, but not always, used for dusts, mists or welding fumes.•Half-Face or Full-Face Respirators: Typically used for vapors, acid gases, dust or welding fumes.•Powered Air-Purifying Respirators: Filters and circulates air in helmet.•Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA): Used for entry and escape from atmospheres that are dangerous or are oxygen-deficient.

Employees should review and understand their company’s written safety policies before working with hazardous chemicals or using PPE. Chemical safety training should teach employees how to read and understand all safety information provided by a chemical manufacturer. Employees must understand the important safety information and symbols on a chemical manufacturer’s labels, as well as the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

For more information on the NJ CAR Workers’ Compensation Program and its Zero Injury Program (ZIP), please contact Charles Russo, NJ CAR’s Risk Manager & Safety Specialist, at 609.883.5056, Ext. 314, or send an email to [email protected].