Describe at least four components of a respiratory protection program.

• A. Written procedures, respirator selection criteria, medical surveillance, fit-testing, training, inspection, maintenance, storage, and cleaning.
• B. Only medical surveillance and training.
• C. Only storage and cleaning.
• D. No written procedures required.

Answer: (A)

A respiratory protection program must be designed to protect workers through both proper equipment and disciplined processes. The best answer reflects a comprehensive set of elements: written procedures that codify how the program is run, criteria for selecting respirators based on the specific hazards and exposure levels, medical surveillance to ensure workers are medically fit to wear respirators, fit-testing to verify a proper seal, thorough training on when and how to use, inspect, and maintain the equipment, and ongoing inspection, maintenance, storage, and cleaning to keep respirators functional and sanitary. Each part plays a vital role: written procedures establish consistent rules and responsibilities; selection criteria ensure the right respirator is chosen for the hazard; medical surveillance confirms health compatibility with respirator use; fit-testing guarantees the respirator seals properly on the face; training builds the knowledge and skills needed for safe use and care; inspection and maintenance catch and fix issues before they fail; and proper storage and cleaning prevent contamination and degradation. The other options miss one or more of these essential elements, making them incomplete as a respiratory protection program.