Respiratory protective equipment should be cleaned and inspected:

• A. Before each use
• B. Only after incident
• C. If damaged
• D. After each use

Answer: (D)

Cleaning and inspecting respiratory protective equipment after each use is the safest and most effective practice. After use, contaminants and moisture can remain on the facepiece, valves, and straps, and wear or damage may have occurred during use. By cleaning promptly, you remove contaminants and reduce the risk of transferring them to the next wearer. The inspection part ensures all critical parts—such as the face seal, head straps, valves, and connections—are intact and functioning properly before the next use. This combination keeps the equipment ready, reliable, and safe for ongoing protection.

While it’s also important to perform a pre-use check, cleaning after each use specifically ensures decontamination and condition assessment are completed consistently, rather than relying on a pre-use check alone.