Respiratory Protection

Respiratory Protection

UCCS uses engineering, administrative, and procedural controls to protect people from dangerous atmospheres, including harmful mists, smoke, vapors, oxygen deficient environments, and other irritants. When these controls cannot provide adequate protection, respiratory protection is necessary.

There are important steps that must be taken when wearing a respirator. EHS is responsible for the Respiratory Protection Program on campus. Please read the program if you are currently wearing a respirator or looking at purchasing one.

If there are any questions or concerns, please contact Cindy Norton at 719.255.3212 or cnorton@uccs.edu.

Respiratory Protection Program

Fit-Testing, Training and Resources

Anyone who utilizes a respirator on campus must go through training prior to donning it. This training includes proper usage, maintenance, storage, and cleaning. Contact EHS for more information about training.

Users are also required to be fit-tested for their respirators.  EHS can provide the fit-testing.

Types of Respirators

Voluntary use of respirators

  • Respirators are allowed to be voluntarily used on campus as long as the Respiratory Protection Program is followed, and the respirator poses no safety risk to the employee. It is considered voluntary use if the exposure does not exceed OSHA or other published standards or action levels and the employees are not required to wear it for the task.  When voluntarily using a filtering respirator, employees must complete the medical evaluation and training. 

N-95 Respirator Training Handout

User seal checks for N-95 respirators