What Is a SCBA Respirator?
When your job requires you to enter an oxygen-deficient or other dangerous atmosphere, an scba respirator is a critical piece of equipment. SCBAs provide a continuous supply of breathable air, making them indispensable to first responders and industrial workers alike. SCBAs are also a key part of our HAZWOPER training and personal protective equipment classes.
What is a SCBA?
A self-contained breathing apparatus, or SCBA, is a positive pressure open-circuit type of respiratory device that carries its own compressed air source. This is in contrast to supplied air respirators (SARs), which depend on ambient air for a source of oxygen. SCBAs are commonly used by firefighters and other rescue professionals to enter IDLH environments, but they are also utilized in a variety of other hazardous workplace environments.
There are many different SCBA systems, with varying durations of air capacity and features. For example, a firefighter SCBA may have an air cylinder capable of providing 75 minutes of oxygen, while a more general industrial SCBA could have a cylinder that provides over 40 minutes of use.
The employer must implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures for mandatory use of the respirator. The program must include elements that ensure the appropriate selection and fit of the respirator. The program must be administered by a qualified individual or a respiratory protection agency (RPA). All filters, cartridges, and canisters must be marked with the NIOSH approval label, and they should be maintained in accordance with the Quality Assurance provisions of the respirator manufacturer’s NIOSH approval for the SCBA.…