Respiratory Protection, General Industry • Regulation 29 CFR 1910.134

Ranking: 4

The workplace environment can significantly impact the health of workers who do not wear respiratory protection, particularly in settings where airborne contaminants are present. Without appropriate respiratory protection, employees are directly exposed to hazardous substances, which can lead to acute and chronic health issues. For instance, inhaling dust, fumes, or chemicals can cause respiratory illnesses, decreased lung function, and long-term conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These risks are heightened in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and healthcare, where exposure to harmful particulates is common.

Even when workers do wear respiratory protection, improper usage can negate the intended benefits of these devices. For example, if a mask is not fitted correctly or is removed frequently, it may allow harmful particles to enter the respiratory system. Additionally, wearing a mask that is too loose or too tight can lead to discomfort and reduced compliance, resulting in workers abandoning their protection altogether. This misapplication can lead to dangerous exposure levels, particularly in environments with high concentrations of contaminants, exacerbating health risks and potentially leading to workplace accidents.

Choosing the wrong type of respiratory protection can also have dire consequences. Different work environments require specific types of respirators, and using an inappropriate one can leave workers vulnerable. For instance, a standard dust mask may not protect against toxic gases or vapors, while a half-mask respirator may be inadequate in environments with high particulate concentrations. Workers relying on ill-suited protection may unknowingly inhale harmful substances, leading to serious health repercussions. To mitigate these risks, it is crucial for employers to provide proper respiratory protection and ensure that workers use it.

ABOUT THE STANDARD

The OSHA respiratory standard is intended to protect employees from harmful airborne contaminants by requiring the use of respirators when effective engineering controls are not feasible. It establishes guidelines for a respiratory protection program, including the selection, use, and maintenance of respirators to ensure worker safety. Among the provisions of the standard:

• In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer shall establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. The program shall be updated as necessary to reflect those changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use. The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable:
• Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace:
  • Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators
  • Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators
  • Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations
  • Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators
  • Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators
  • Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations
  • Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance
  • Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program
• An employer may provide respirators at the request of employees or permit employees to use their own respirators, if the employer determines that such respirator use will not in itself create a hazard.
• In addition, the employer must establish and implement those elements of a written respiratory protection program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily is medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator is cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user. Exception: Employers are not required to include in a written respiratory protection program those employees whose only use of respirators involves the voluntary use of filtering facepieces (dust masks).
• The employer shall designate a program administrator who is qualified by appropriate training or experience that is commensurate with the complexity of the program to administer or oversee the respiratory protection program and conduct the required evaluations of program effectiveness.
• The employer shall provide respirators, training, and medical evaluations at no cost to the employee.
• The employer is required to evaluate respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace, identify relevant workplace and user factors, and base respirator selection on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker is exposed.
• The employer shall select a NIOSH-certified respirator. The respirator shall be used in compliance with the conditions of its certification.
• The employer shall identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; this evaluation shall include a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazard(s) and an identification of the contaminant’s chemical state and physical form. Where the employer cannot identify or reasonably estimate the employee exposure, the employer shall consider the atmosphere to be IDLH.
• The employer shall select respirators from a sufficient number of respirator models and sizes so that the respirator is acceptable to, and correctly fits, the user. WMHS

RESOURCES

OSHA Poster: 7 Steps to Correctly Wear a Respirator at Work www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA4015.pdf