Respiratory Protection Program

Submitting OIG:

Report Description:

Due to the risk of employee exposure to toxic vapors, gases, dust, or oxygen deficiency, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) performed an evaluation of TVA’s Respiratory Protection Program at nonnuclear facilities. The objective of this evaluation was to determine if selected respiratory protection procedures were being performed at nonnuclear facilities. The OIG determined some respiratory protection procedures were not being performed as required. Specifically, we determined some (1) requirements were not being met for training, fit tests, facepiece seal protection, and respirator storage and (2) employees were delinquent on medical evaluation requirements.

Date Issued:

Thursday, September 1, 2022

Agency Reviewed / Investigated:

Tennessee Valley Authority

Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:

2021-17298

Location(s):

Agency-Wide

Type of Report:

Inspection / Evaluation

Questioned Costs:

Funds for Better Use:

Number of Recommendations:

View Document:

Attachment	Size
2021-17298.pdf	898.42 KB

Related Open Recommendations

Recommendation Number	Recommendation Status	Significant Recommendation
1	Open	Yes
We recommend the Senior Vice President, Power Operations, identify employees who have not completed required training or fit tests and take steps to expedite training and fit test completion for those employees.
2	Open	No
We recommend the Senior Vice President, Power Operations, improve oversight to prevent employee training, fit test, and medical evaluation delinquencies.
3	Open	Yes
We recommend the Senior Vice President, Power Operations, complete a review of respirators assigned to employees and ensure these respirators match the make, model, and size in their most recent annual fit test.
4	Open	Yes
We recommend the Senior Vice President, Power Operations, enforce facial hair requirements for employees approved for respirator use or provide loose-fitting hoods to accommodate employees with facial hair.
5	Open	No
We recommend the Senior Vice President, Power Operations, perform a review of all areas where employees store respirators to verify proper storage, provide lockers or containers for proper storage where none exist, and reinforce proper storage procedures to employees.

Recommendation Number

Recommendation Status

Significant Recommendation

Additional Details

Open

Yes

We recommend the Senior Vice President, Power Operations, identify employees who have not completed required training or fit tests and take steps to expedite training and fit test completion for those employees.

Open

We recommend the Senior Vice President, Power Operations, improve oversight to prevent employee training, fit test, and medical evaluation delinquencies.

Open

Yes

We recommend the Senior Vice President, Power Operations, complete a review of respirators assigned to employees and ensure these respirators match the make, model, and size in their most recent annual fit test.