Safety Standards, Repairs, and Recordkeeping
ANSI and OSHA Requirements
OSHA
refers
to
Inspection
and
maintenance under 1910.134 of the
General Rule
Self-contained breathing apparatus is a
vital
part
of
personal
protective
equipment.
It
safeguards
against
hazardous atmospheres. But breathing
apparatus is just like any other piece of
professional equipment. It requires
proper inspection and, maintenance.
Under the provisions of the American
National Standards Institute's (ANSI)
Standards
Z88.2
and
Z88.5,
responsibility
for
the
respiratory
protection program must be assigned to
an administrator. He and the person(s)
he designates must have sufficient
knowledge
and
training
to
conduct
equipment maintenance and inspection.
ANSI Z88.2 and Z88.5 describe the
inspection and maintenance procedures
that designated personnel must follow
during the checks made:
at least weekly
after each use of the apparatus
monthly during thorough examination
and testing.
The end result of such inspection and
maintenance procedures is that the user
can be assured that his equipment will be
checked
in
compliance
with
ANSI
requirements.
Copies of ANSI Z88.2 and Z88.5 may be
purchased from the American National
Standards Institute, 1430 Broadway,
New York, N.Y. 10018.
Repairs by Qualified Persons Only
MSA now provides three levels of
inspection, maintenance, and repair for
self contained breathing apparatus.
Level I includes procedures necessary to
conduct
a
general
cleaning
and
inspection of the breathing apparatus in
accordance with the ANSI standards.
The procedures for Level I are included
in this bulletin. No special training is
required, although the user must have a
thorough understanding of the apparatus.
Level
II
is
for
Trained
Air
Mask
Maintenance
Personnel.
This
intermediate program covers about 90%
of all field repairs. Most of the operations
deal with the low-pressure areas of the
apparatus, although a few repairs can be
made to high-pressure components.
Level II requires training by an authorized
MSA representative, along with some
special tools and an MSA Portable
Regulator Tester. A certificate of
instruction is issued upon successful
completion of the program.
Level III involves the Certified Regulator
Repairman Program for authorized MSA
Air Mask Service Centers. These
persons are authorized to perform all
maintenance and repairs, including the
high-pressure areas of the regulator,
Audi-Larm assembly, and cylinder valve.
Certified Regulator Repairmen must first
successfully complete Level II training
and then be certified by an MSA product
specialist. This can be done at your
location. Qualified organizations are
issued a certificate (see below). If there
is no Air Mask Service Center in your
area, return the unit to MSA for service.
Here is one note of caution. Breathing
apparatus must not be repaired beyond
the
manufacturer's
recommendations.
ANSI
Z88.5
make
this
clear
"Replacement or repairs shall be done
only by qualified persons, using parts
designed for the breathing apparatus.
No attempt shall be made to replace
parts or to make adjustments or repairs
beyond
the
manufacturer's
recommendations.
Reducing
or
admission valves or regulators shall be
returned to the manufacturer or to a
trained technician for adjustment or
repair. Parts shall not be interchanged
among
devices
of
different
manufacturers."
Under no circumstances should any
maintenance or repair operations be
attempted
unless
personnel
are
trained or certified by MSA. Without
training or certification, only those
operations described In this bulletin
may be performed on MSA breathing
apparatus.
MSA Inspection Tags and Forms
For easy checking and recording of
inspections called for under OSHA
1910.134 and ANSI, an inspection tag
(shown below) for the Ultralite Air Mask
is available from MSA.
The inspection tag may be attached to
the backplate of the breathing apparatus,
or elsewhere, for easy reference. A
checklist on the front of the tag outlines
the
procedures
for
conducting
the
inspections that must be made on
breathing apparatus after each use and
monthly, as prescribed by OSHA.
The back of the card has space available
to record both monthly inspections and
individual use of the apparatus.
In addition, MSA can supply you with a
permanent log for recording the weekly,
after each use, and monthly inspections.
The log can be kept in the files, separate
from the apparatus. This letter-size log
(shown above) is a handy check-off list to
use
when
making
inspections
of
breathing apparatus. A serial number on
the regulator can be used to identify each
unit.
Note: This bulletin is offered only as a general guide for the
inspection and maintenance of Ultralite Air Masks from MSA.
Under no circumstances should these products be inspected
and maintained except by qualified, trained personnel and
not until the instructions, labels, or other literature
accompanying the products have been carefully read and
the precautions therein set forth are followed. Only they
contain the complete and detailed information concerning
these products.
600 Penn Center Boulevard
MSA
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15235 USA
Phone (412) 273-5000 · Telex 812453
Branch offices throughout the United States (Call toll-free 1-800-MSA-2222).
Subsidiaries in: Amsterdam Barcelona Berlin Calcutta Glasgow Harare
Johannesburg Lima Malmo Mexico City Milan Ndola Paris Santiago
Sao Paulo Singapore Sydney Tokyo Toronto. Representatives in principal
cities throughout the world.
Bulletin No. 0105-2 Part No. 476465 Printed in U.S.A. 847
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