Posted on Tue, Oct 13, 2009 @ 12:31 PM
By Ian Lanza, Life Sciences Operations Coordinator
Maintaining and inspecting self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is an important piece to a prepared and compliant HAZWOPER emergency response team. If your facility has an emergency response team trained to contain or respond to spills or releases of hazardous material, chances are you have SCBAs onsite. Regularly inspecting SCBAs is an important component of complying with HAZWOPER and being prepared for any incident.
SCBA units should be inspected on a regular schedule to proactively identify any malfunctioning parts. The routine inspections should be documented, and any units failing the inspection must be de-activated and taken out of the inventory until repaired. Finding broken equipment or defects before a real response will save time and money.
Haz mat responders and technicians should also inspect each unit before donning. Finding a frayed o-ring before entering a hazardous environment could save a life. Wearing defective PPE can be more harmful than not wearing any PPE at all.
What types of defects have you found at your facility during routine SCBA inspections?