| TO: |
All MOSH Personnel |
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| FROM: |
Roger Campbell, Assistant Commissioner |
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| SUBJECT: |
Revisions relating to Assigned Protection Factors, 29 CFR Parts
1910 and 1926. |
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| PURPOSE: |
To revise the existing Respiratory Protection Standard to
add definitions and requirements for Assigned Protection
Factors (APFs) and Maximum Use Concentrations (MUCs).
The revisions also supersede the current respirator selection
provisions of existing substance-specific standards with
new APFs, except for the respirator selection provisions
of the 1.3 Butadiene Standard.
The final APFs provide employers with critical information to use when selecting
respirators for employees exposed to atmospheric contaminants
in construction and general industry workplaces. Proper
respirator selection using APFs is an important component
of an effective respiratory protection program.
Employers also use MUCs to select appropriate respirators, especially for
protection against organic vapors and gases. MUCs specify
the maximum atmospheric concentrations that an employee
can experience while wearing a specific respirator or class of respirator.
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| EFFECTIVE DATE: |
April 9, 2007 |
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| ISSUANCE DATE: |
February 20, 2008 |
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A. Background
- On February 6, 2007, the Commissioner of Labor and Industry adopted through
incorporation by reference under COMAR 09.12.31 Maryland Occupational
Safety and Health Act - Incorporation by Reference of Federal
Standards, the revisions relating to Assigned Protection Factors,
29 CFR Parts 1910 and 1926, excluding Part 1915, published in
71 FR 50122 - 50192 (August 24, 2006). This action, which was
proposed for adoption in 33:26 Md. R. 2002 - 2003 (December
22, 2006), has been adopted as proposed. This action was recommended
to the Commissioner of Labor and Industry by the Maryland Occupational
Safety and Health Advisory Board pursuant to meeting held on
September 6, 2006, notice of which was given in accordance with
State Government Article, §10-506(c), Annotated Code of Maryland.
B. Action
- MOSH Compliance and Consultation Supervisors shall ensure that all Compliance
Officers are trained on the contents of this notice.
cc: J. Ronald DeJuliis, Commissioner, Division of Labor and Industry
Craig D. Lowry, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Labor and Industry
Jonathan R. Krasnoff, Deputy Counsel, Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation
Office of Administrative Hearings
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