Open Circuit SCBA is designed so that the exhaled air containing higher concentrations of carbon dioxide and a lowered concentration of oxygen is exhaled directly to the outside atmosphere. SCBA respirators should not be used unless you have received full instructions for their use and have been given a face piece fitting test. They shall not be worn when conditions prevent a good face seal. This also includes beards, sideburns and eyeglasses (contact lenses are also prohibited). It is also very important to carefully read the operating and maintenance instructions that come with each unit. It is not the intention of this document to reproduce these instructions here, as they vary from unit to unit; however, there are two points common to both that are worthy of reiteration: Most of the units in our service are approved as 30-minute devices. HOWEVER , the actual duration will vary due to many factors including the degree of physical activity, the physical condition of the user, the amount of experience that the user has with the equipment, etc. The actual duration could be as low as 15 minutes. On all units a warning WHISTLE will sound when 20-25% of the useful service life of the air tank remains. You must evacuate the area you are working and go to the nearest fresh air base as soon as this alarm goes off.
It is the responsibility of each branch or division manager to ensure that SCBA respirators are cleaned and inspected at least monthly. Follow the manufacturer's cleaning and periodic maintenance schedules paying particular attention to specific replacement dates for critical parts, such as tilt valves and seals. These units must only be repaired by an approved service technician and must never be modified except by the manufacturer. Air-line supplied respirators are basically a SCBA unit that is supplied by an air hose as opposed to a portable bottle. These are very useful for extended operations but should only be used with a 5-minute (minimum) emergency bottle in the event air hose is cut or restricted. 1.3.2. Head, Face, Hand and Foot Protection 1.3.2.1 Hard Hats All field personnel are to be issued a safety hat (hard hat) which must be worn at all times when in terminals or refineries, on vessels, in warehouses, etc. That is, any time you are working, except when in your vehicle or an office building. To help protect the eyes from the impact of flying objects and liquid splash, all field personnel are to be issued single lens goggles with flush sides and indented temple areas.
Goggles are to be worn when gauging or sampling any material or at any other time when there is a likelihood of liquids or objects getting into the eyes. If goggles are worn over sight correcting glasses then the glasses are to have impact resistant, splinter proof lenses. Contact lenses MUST NOT be worn when working in the field, regardless of whether goggles are worn. The vapors from petroleum and petroleum products can dangerously affect the wearing of contact lenses. Removal of goggles: if you are sprayed with a petroleum product you must get under a shower as soon as possible; and, it may be necessary to remove the goggles to be able to see the way to the shower. If you cannot see sufficiently to locate a shower with the goggles on, the following precautions must be taken to keep any of the splashed material out of the eyes: Bend over until looking directly at the ground. Pull goggles down and away from the face by stretching the headband and then slipping them over the top of the head. Place the hand across the forehead and then straighten up and proceed to the nearest shower.
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