Respiratory Technicians

Respiratory technicians generally work in extremely clean, quiet surroundings. They usually work 40 hours a week, which may include nights and weekends because hospitals are in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The work requires long hours of standing and may be very stressful during emergencies.

A possible hazard is that the inhalants these employees work with are highly flammable. The danger of fire is minimized, however, if the workers test equipment regularly and are strict about taking safety precautions. As do workers in many other health occupations, respiratory technicians run a risk of catching infectious diseases. The job has been especially stressful during the pandemic, which has brought a new, highly infectious virus to the world. Technicians must now take even more precautious to protect their health, their patients' health, as well as the general public's health. Careful adherence to proper procedures minimizes the risk.