Respiratory Protection Program

Millions of workers are required to wear respirators (see left) in various workplaces throughout the United States. Respirators protect workers against insufficient oxygen environments, harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors, and sprays. These hazards may cause cancer, lung impairment, diseases, or death. Compliance with the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard could avert hundreds of deaths and thousands of illnesses annually.

Respirators protect the user in two basic ways. The first is by the removal of contaminants from the air. Respirators of this type include particulate respirators, which filter out airborne particles, and air-purifying respirators with cartridges/canisters which filter out chemicals and gases. Other respirators protect by supplying clean respirable air from another source. Respirators that fall into this category include airline respirators, which use compressed air from a remote source, and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which include their own air supply.

Below is a link to the campus Respiratory protection program and a video and poster for reference on how to safely don a filtering face piece respirator.

For additional information on Respiratory Protection, contact Roxane Strobel at 805-756-3044 or email at rstrobel@calpoly.edu.

To enroll a new employee in the Respiratory Protection Program, please contact Roxane Strobel at 805-756-3044 or email at rstrobel@calpoly.edu.

Medical Clearance

Medical clearance is required to work in the Respiratory Protection Program. To access Cal Poly's secure online medical evaluation link, please contact Roxane Strobel at 805-756-3044 or email at rstrobel@calpoly.edu.

Important note regarding medical clearance: if you CANNOT complete the medical evaluation in one sitting, you will be emailed a separate email from Examinetics with a unique personal link to regain access to finish it. You would not access it through the original link sent to you by Roxane Strobel. This is to protect your privacy. If you ARE able to complete the medical evaluation in one sitting, this will not apply.

Medical clearances are repeated every 3 years. The Learning Hub will prompt you when your medical clearance is due again.

Training

Training is conducted via the Learning Hub, at this link. You must complete this training annually. Please ensure that you attend the training every year that you are in the program.

Respirator Fit Tests

To schedule a respirator fit test, use the link below.

You must have completed the required annual respiratory protection training through the Learning Hub, have completed the medical evaluation process (initially and every 3 years thereafter), and have your assigned respirator(s) PRIOR to scheduling a fit test.