3
Panther/Cougar/Puma SCBA Operation Manual
WARNING—Continued
The pressure within the SPERIAN•
facepiece remains positive under
most working conditions, but as with
all SCBAs, negative pressure excur-
sions are possible. Conditions when
an SCBA can experience negative
facepiece pressures include, but are
not limited to: 1) the SCBA is improp-
erly worn, 2) the SCBA is not used in
accordance with the instructions, 3)
the SCBA is improperly maintained, or
4) the SCBA is over-breathed during
heavy work rates. The SCBA will pro-
vide reduced protection when oper-
ated in a negative pressure mode.
Some sensitive individuals may ex-•
perience health problems when ex-
posed to even minute amounts of con-
taminants. This SCBA will not prevent
health problems for those individuals.
Persons sensitized can have a se-•
vere reaction to chemicals at levels
well below accepted health levels
such as the OSHA Permissible Expo-
sure Limit (PEL), ACGIH®Threshold
Limit Value (TLV®), or NIOSH Recom-
mended Exposure Limits (REL). Do
not use this SCBA if you have been
sensitized from previous exposure or
believe that you may be sensitive or
allergic to any chemical (e.g., isocya-
nates, latex, etc.).
Do not alter or modify this SCBA in any•
manner. Modifying this SCBA will void
NIOSH certication and may create a
condition in which the SCBA would
not provide the intended protection.
Some individuals are sensitive to •
chemicals (e.g., isocyanates, latex,
oil mists, etc.) or may have some
type of respiratory disorder (e.g.,
asthma, chronic obstructive airway
disease, etc.). If you are sensitive to
any chemical or have a respiratory
disorder, you may have a severe reac-
tion at contaminant levels well below
accepted health levels, such as the
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit
(PEL), ACGIH®Threshold Limit Value
(TLV®), or the NIOSH Recommended
Exposure Limits (REL). Many chemi-
cals (e.g., isocyanates, mercury, etc.)
have no physical warning properties
and you cannot taste or smell the con-
taminants even though they may be
present in the facepiece. This SCBA
will reduce, but will not eliminate, the
possibility of contaminants entering
the facepiece and causing a severe
reaction. Do not use this respirator
under these conditions.
WARNING—Continued
Discontinue use if you experience•
skin irritation or discoloration.
You must read, understand, and fol-•
low all warnings, instructions, labels,
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS),
etc., for the materials you are using
(e.g., paints, hardeners, insecticides,
varnishes, etc.). You must also read,
understand, and follow all warnings,
instructions, etc., listed in the MSDS
for any contaminants that may be or
are present in the work area.
An impact to the second stage regu-•
lator when the cylinder valve is open
may inadvertently activate the First-
Breath-On mechanism, causing air to
ow from the regulator and diminish-
ing the air in the cylinder.
ONLY grasp the cylinder valve hand-•
wheel to open or close the valve; DO
NOT pick up or carry a cylinder by
the handwheel, drop a cylinder on the
handwheel, or bump the handwheel,
as this may cause the cylinder valve
to inadvertently open, which may lead
to the cylinder becoming airborne
under the thrust of air released from
the valve, causing injury or death. AL-
WAYS pick up and carry an air cylin-
der by the cylinder body.
DO NOT over-torque the air cylinder •
valves. ALWAYS verify that the hydro-
static test facility performing your cyl-
inder testing DOES NOT over-torque
the cylinder valves when they rein-
stall them. SPERIAN SCBA air cylin-
der valves must be tightened with a
torque wrench to a torque value of 70
ft-lb. The torque wrench must have a
range of no more than 0 to 175 ft-lb
and an accuracy of at least ±4 ft-lb (a
variation of no more than 6%).
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE•
WARNINGS MAY LEAD TO PERSON-
AL INJURY, ILLNESS, OR DEATH.
