( 2) Failure to comply with any of the following shall be considered an imminent hazard and may be subject to an Order Prohibiting Use from the Division:
( A) Subsection( f)( 2)( D) Prohibitions;( B) Subsection( h) Respiratory protection;( C) Subsection( m) Reporting of silicosis; and( D) Section 5203 Carcinogen Report of Use Requirements.
( h) Respiratory protection. * * * * *
( 3) For all employees exposed to a high-exposure trigger task the employer shall provide, and shall ensure employees properly use, the following respiratory protection, in accordance with Section 5144:
( A) A full face, tight-fitting powered-air purifying respirator( PAPR), a helmet or hood PAPR with an Assigned Protection Factor( APF) of 1000 pursuant to section 5144, or another respirator providing equal or greater protection( APF ofr 1000 or greater) equipped with a HEPA, N100, R100, or P100 filter shall be used.
Exception 1: The employer may provide employees with a loose-fitting PAPR( APF of 25), a half-face PAPR( APF of 50), a full facepiece air-purifying respirator( APF of 50), or another respirator providing equal or greater protection where the employer demonstrates that employee exposures to respirable crystalline silica are continuously maintained below the action level or artificial stone action level, as applicable, through representative air sampling conducted by a qualified person at least once every six months, in accordance with subsection( d)( 3). The respirator shall be equipped with a HEPA, N100, R100, or P100 filter. This exception does not apply if the PLHCP or specialist recommends use of a full face, tight-fitting PAPR, or other more protective respirator.
Exception 2: The employer may provide employees with a respirator with an APF of 10 or greater equipped with a HEPA, N100, R100, or P100 filter if all of the following conditions are met:
1. Employee exposures to respirable crystalline silica are continuously maintained below the action level through representative air sampling conducted by a qualified person at least once every six months, in accordance with subsection( d)( 3).
2. All employees are fully participating in all components of the medical surveillance program, pursuant to subsection( j); no employee, either currently or previously employed, has been diagnosed with silicosis; and no current employee meets the definition of suspected silicosis.
3. This exception does not apply if the PLHCP or specialist recommends a more protective respirator.
( B) A full face, tight-fitting supplied-air respirator in pressure-demand or other positive pressure mode( APF of 10,000) for any employees known to the employer to be diagnosed with confirmed silicosis, or who meet the definition of suspected silicosis, or whenever the PLHCP or specialist recommends use of a supplied-air respirator. The air source for the supplied-air respirator shall be located outside the regulated area and in an area that is free of respirable crystalline silica and other airborne contaminants.