Which of the following actions should be avoided when maintaining respirators?

The action that should be avoided when maintaining respirators is cleaning respirators worn by more than one employee monthly. The reason this practice is discouraged is that respirators are personal protective equipment designed for individual use. Each employee's respiratory needs, fit, and potential contamination issues vary, which means that a respirator should ideally be assigned to a single user.

Cleaning a respirator that has been worn by multiple employees can lead to cross-contamination or ineffective cleaning, as it may not address specific contaminants or personal fittings. It is critical for respiratory protective equipment to be hygienically maintained and adequately fit each user to ensure proper protection from hazardous substances.

Proper practices would include cleaning and disinfecting respirators used by only one employee routinely and on an as-needed basis rather than adhering to an arbitrary schedule. Storing respirators away from sunlight is recommended to prevent damage to materials, and cleaning respirators after emergency use is essential to restore their functionality and safety for future use.