Respiratory Protection Week is September 6-9

September 6, 2022 - Defence Stories

Caption

DND Scientist in a sealed off room wearing a C5 gas mask in a white lab coat and plastic gloves working on some particle-generating equipment.

The Canadian Forces Fire Marshal Office, as the office of primary interest for the DND/CAF Respiratory Protection Program (RPP), is pleased to provide key RPP stakeholders, namely DND public service employee and CAF member respiratory protection device (RPD) users, their managers and supervisors with this annual report from the National Respiratory Protection Program Administrator (NRPPA). The aim of the report is to share useful information and guidance.

The RPP Canadian Forces Technical Order (CFTO) C-87-040-000/MS-001 is your DND/CAF guide to the RPP, and includes lists of responsibilities for users, supervisors and now managers with the latest revision in 2022. The Defence Administrative Order & Directive (DAOD) 5021-1 Respiratory Protection explains the program.

Managers must:

1. Secure current Occupational Health Workplace Assessments (OHWAs) from a Preventive Medicine Technician or Industrial Hygienist as qualified persons, so users know what respirator to wear for what hazards inherent to a task.
2. Ensure initial and periodic occupational health evaluations and medical examinations occur for:
   1. all supplied air respirator (SAR) users and
   2. air-purifying respirator (APR) users who identify a risk factor to the safe wearing of a respiratory protection device on their fit testing form.

These requirements for DND public service employee users are mandated under Health Canada’s Public Service Occupational Health Program’s Occupational Health Assessment Guide (OHAG) and under the Treasury Board Secretariat Directive on Occupational Health Evaluations.

These requirements for CAF members are mandated under the 4000 Series Documents from Health Services MPC, which has  instructions to follow as applicable to different occupations or hazards or during pregnancy/nursing. Managers must consult with Directorate Forces Health Protection (DFHP) or Canadian Forces Health Services (CF H Svcs) determine which apply to their personnel then apply them.

Supervisors of all personnel must ensure:

1. users are trained and fit tested annually or more often as needed but not less than every two years as mandated by law, to adapt to periodic changes to a person’s ability to wear a particular type and size of respirator safely,
2. training and fit testing is tracked by Training Coordinators in Monitor Mass for ALL personnel, using the Respiratory Protection Program Domain.

The local Respiratory Protection Administrator (RPPA) at the firehall or fire prevention office at your wing, base or unit firehall or fire prevention office can be reached for clarification. The RPPA is usually the Fire Chief or their Coordinator.