Glenda,
Here at Harris we no longer have respirators, either.  I don't know about
"required" per se, but our safety officer explained that with all the regs
and the extensive training, not to mention the pulmonary function testing
etc,etc,etc, we have opted for a "get out fast and call the pros" approach.
In other words, our hospital personnell are not required to have
respirators, but are also not allowed into any area, be it a spill location
or just an area where exposure is high because of what goes on there,
either.
So I guess respirators can still be required, but there is a "no respirator"
option if you train the staff to just get out and let people with
respirators in.
Wanda Shotsberger
Harris Methodist
Fort Worth
 ----------
From: Hoye, Glenda F. (Fka Hood)
To: 'Histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
Subject: safety question
Date: Wednesday, September 22, 1999 9:15AM

Have the rulings changed?
I have recently presented a lecture in our program about laboratory safety,
and one of the students' assignments included finding out, in their own
labs, what PPE's were available/required for certain tasks.
One of the students wrote that respirators are not available in her lab, and
that the supervisor told her that they are no longer required -- respirators
of any kind, for any task. Surely, I haven't missed a change that
drastic.......
Any of you safety "gurus" out there know anything about all this? I'd sure
like some input, and will pass along whatever new information you have to
the students in the training program.
Thanks in advance,
Glenda F. Hoye, B.S., HT(ASCP)
Histotechnology Program Director
Indiana University School of Allied Health Sciences
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5119
317-278-1599