Construction Site Respiratory Protection and Dust Control Checklist

Respiratory hazard assessments should be conducted initially during project planning, and then reassessed whenever there are changes in work processes, materials used, or environmental conditions. At minimum, a review should be conducted monthly to ensure ongoing effectiveness of control measures.

The employer is responsible for implementing the respiratory protection program, typically delegating this task to a qualified program administrator or safety manager. This person oversees all aspects of the program, including hazard assessment, respirator selection, fit testing, and worker training.

Key areas include hazard identification and assessment, respirator selection and fit testing, dust suppression techniques, ventilation systems, cleaning and maintenance of respirators, worker training on proper use and limitations of respirators, medical evaluations for respirator users, recordkeeping, and ongoing program evaluation.

Dust control measures should include water spraying or misting systems, dust collection systems on power tools, proper containment of dusty materials, use of wet cutting techniques, implementation of wind barriers, regular cleaning of work areas, and proper disposal of dust-laden waste. The specific measures depend on the nature of the work and the types of dust generated.

Workers should receive initial training before using respirators, with refresher training provided annually. Additional training should be conducted when there are changes in workplace conditions, types of respirators used, or if workers show inadequate knowledge or use of respirators. Training should cover proper use, limitations, maintenance, and storage of respirators.