Section 340.730  Use of Individual Respiratory Protection Equipment

a)         If the licensee uses respiratory protection equipment to limit intakes pursuant to Section 340.720 of this Part:

1)         Except as provided in subsection (a)(2) of this Section, the licensee shall use only respiratory protection equipment that is tested and certified or had certification extended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (NIOSH/MSHA).

2)         The licensee may use equipment that has not been tested or certified by NIOSH/MSHA, has not had certification extended by NIOSH/MSHA, or for which there is no schedule for testing or certification, provided the licensee has submitted to the Agency and the Agency has approved an application for authorized use of that equipment, including a demonstration by testing, or a demonstration on the basis of test information, that the material and performance characteristics of the equipment are capable of providing the proposed degree of protection under anticipated conditions of use.

3)         The licensee shall implement and maintain a respiratory protection program that meets the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration as set forth in 29 CFR 1910.134, effective April 18, 1998.

4)         The licensee shall advise each respirator user that the user may leave the area at any time for relief from respirator use in the event of equipment malfunction, physical or psychological distress, procedural or communication failure, significant deterioration of operating conditions or any other conditions that might require such relief.

b)         When estimating dose to individuals from intake of airborne radioactive materials, the licensee may make allowance for respiratory protection equipment used to limit intakes pursuant to Section 340.720 of this Part.  To estimate dose, the concentration of radioactive material in the air that is inhaled when respirators are worn is initially assumed to be the average ambient concentration in air without respirator protection, divided by the assigned protection factor.  If the dose is later found to be greater than initially estimated, the corrected value shall be used; if the dose is later found to be less than initially estimated, the corrected value may be used.  Protection factors for respirators are specified in Appendix A to 10 CFR 20, effective January 1, 2004.          

c)         The licensee shall obtain authorization from the Agency before assigning respiratory protection factors in excess of those specified in Appendix A to 10 CFR 20, effective January 1, 2004, exclusive of subsequent amendments or editions.  The Agency shall authorize a licensee to use higher protection factors on receipt of an application that:

1)         Demonstrates that a need exists for higher protection factors; and

2)         Demonstrates that the respiratory protection equipment provides these higher protection factors under the proposed conditions of use.

d)         The licensee shall notify the Agency, in writing, at least 30 days before the date that respiratory protection equipment is first used pursuant to the provisions of either subsection (a) or (b) of this Section.

(Source:  Amended at 29 Ill. Reg. 20841, effective December 16, 2005)