Respiratory Protection

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## 29 CFR 1910 (OSHA) Quantitative fit test (QNFT) means an assessment of the adequacy of respirator fit by numerically measuring the amount of leakage into the respirator. Respiratory inlet covering means that portion of a respirator that forms the protective barrier between the user's respiratory tract and an air-purifying device or breathing air source, or both. It may be a facepiece, helmet, hood, suit, or a mouthpiece respirator with nose clamp. Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) means an atmosphere-supplying respirator for which the breathing air source is designed to be carried by the user. Service life means the period of time that a respirator, filter or sorbent, or other respiratory equipment provides adequate protection to the wearer. Supplied-air respirator (SAR) or airline respirator means an atmosphere-supplying respirator for which the source of breathing air is not designed to be carried by the user. This section means this respiratory protection standard. Tight-fitting facepiece means a respiratory inlet covering that forms a complete seal with the face. User seal check means an action conducted by the respirator user to determine if the respirator is properly seated to the face. - (c) Respiratory protection program. This paragraph requires the employer to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures and elements for required respirator use. The program must be administered by a suitably trained program administrator. In addition, certain program elements may be required for voluntary use to prevent potential hazards associated with the use of the respirator. The Small Entity Compliance Guide contains criteria for the selection of a program administrator and a sample program that meets the requirements of this paragraph. Copies of the Small Entity Compliance Guide will be available on or about April 8, 1998 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Office of …

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## Subpart I-Personal Protective Equipment AUTHORITY: 29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657; Secretary of Labor's Order No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754), 8-76 (41 FR [redacted postal code]), 9-83 (48 FR [redacted postal code]), 1-90 (55 FR 9033), 6-96 (62 FR 111), 3-2000 (65 FR [redacted postal code]), 5-2002 (67 FR [redacted postal code]), 5-2007 (72 FR [redacted postal code]), 4-2010 (75 FR [redacted postal code]), or 1-2012 (77 FR 3912), as applicable, and 29 CFR Part 1911. ## §1910.132 General requirements. - (a) Application. Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact. - (b) Employee-owned equipment. Where employees provide their own protective equipment, the employer shall be responsible to assure its adequacy, including proper maintenance, and sanitation of such equipment. - (c) Design. All personal protective equipment shall be of safe design and construction for the work to be performed. - (d) Hazard assessment and equipment selection. (1) The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall: - (i) Select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment; - (ii) Communicate selection decisions to each affected employee; and, - (iii) Select PPE that properly fits each affected employee. NOTE: N…

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## 29 CFR 1910 (OSHA) - (7) Additional medical evaluations. At a minimum, the employer shall provide additional medical evaluations that comply with the requirements of this section if: - (i) An employee reports medical signs or symptoms that are related to ability to use a respirator; - (ii) A PLHCP, supervisor, or the respirator program administrator informs the employer that an employee needs to be reevaluated; - (iii) Information from the respiratory protection program, including observations made during fit testing and program evaluation, indicates a need for employee reevaluation; or - (iv) A change occurs in workplace conditions (e.g., physical work effort, protective clothing, temperature) that may result in a substantial increase in the physiological burden placed on an employee. - (f) Fit testing. This paragraph requires that, before an employee may be required to use any respirator with a negative or positive pressure tight-fitting facepiece, the employee must be fit tested with the same make, model, style, and size of respirator that will be used. This paragraph specifies the kinds of fit tests allowed, the procedures for conducting them, and how the results of the fit tests must be used. - (1) The employer shall ensure that employees using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator pass an appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT) as stated in this paragraph. - (2) The employer shall ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter. - (3) The employer shall conduct an additional fit test whenever the employee reports, or the employer, PLHCP, supervisor, or program administrator makes visual observations of, changes in the employee's physical condition that could affect respirator fit. Such conditions include, but are not limited to, facial scarrin…

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## 29 CFR 1910 (OSHA) - (i) Qualitative fit testing of these respirators shall be accomplished by temporarily converting the respirator user's actual facepiece into a negative pressure respirator with appropriate filters, or by using an identical negative pressure air-purifying respirator facepiece with the same sealing surfaces as a surrogate for the atmosphere-supplying or powered air-purifying respirator facepiece. - (ii) Quantitative fit testing of these respirators shall be accomplished by modifying the facepiece to allow sampling inside the facepiece in the breathing zone of the user, midway between the nose and mouth. This requirement shall be accomplished by installing a permanent sampling probe onto a surrogate facepiece, or by using a sampling adapter designed to temporarily provide a means of sampling air from inside the facepiece. - (iii) Any modifications to the respirator facepiece for fit testing shall be completely removed, and the facepiece restored to NIOSH-approved configuration, before that facepiece can be used in the workplace. - (g) Use of respirators. This paragraph requires employers to establish and implement procedures for the proper use of respirators. These requirements include prohibiting conditions that may result in facepiece seal leakage, preventing employees from removing respirators in hazardous environments, taking actions to ensure continued effective respirator operation throughout the work shift, and establishing procedures for the use of respirators in IDLH atmospheres or in interior structural firefighting situations. - (1) Facepiece seal protection. (i) The employer shall not permit respirators with tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by employees who have: - (A) Facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function; or - (B) Any condition that interferes with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function. - (ii) If an employee wears corrective glasses or gogg…

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## 29 CFR 1910 (OSHA) - (B) If they detect vapor or gas breakthrough, changes in breathing resistance, or leakage of the facepiece; or - (C) To replace the respirator or the filter, cartridge, or canister elements. - (iii) If the employee detects vapor or gas breakthrough, changes in breathing resistance, or leakage of the facepiece, the employer must replace or repair the respirator before allowing the employee to return to the work area. - (3) Procedures for IDLH atmospheres. For all IDLH atmospheres, the employer shall ensure that: - (i) One employee or, when needed, more than one employee is located outside the IDLH atmosphere; - (ii) Visual, voice, or signal line communication is maintained between the employee(s) in the IDLH atmosphere and the employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere; - (iii) The employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere are trained and equipped to provide effective emergency rescue; - (iv) The employer or designee is notified before the employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmosphere enter the IDLH atmosphere to provide emergency rescue; - (v) The employer or designee authorized to do so by the employer, once notified, provides necessary assistance appropriate to the situation; - (vi) Employee(s) located outside the IDLH atmospheres are equipped with: - (A) Pressure demand or other positive pressure SCBAs, or a pressure demand or other positive pressure supplied-air respirator with auxiliary SCBA; and either - (B) Appropriate retrieval equipment for removing the employee(s) who enter(s) these hazardous atmospheres where retrieval equipment would contribute to the rescue of the employee(s) and would not increase the overall risk resulting from entry; or - (C) Equivalent means for rescue where retrieval equipment is not required under paragraph (g)(3)(vi)(B). - (4) Procedures for interior structural firefighting. In addition to the requirements set forth under paragraph (g)(3), in interior structural fires, the employer shall ensu…

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## 29 CFR 1926 (OSHA) - (iv) Periods when respirators are required to provide interim protection of employees while they perform the operations specified in paragraph (d)(2) of this section. - (2) Respirator program. (i) The employer must implement a respiratory protection program in accordance with §1910.134(b) through (d) (except (d)(1)(iii)), and (f) through (m), which covers each employee required by this section to use a respirator. - (ii) If an employee has breathing difficulty during fit testing or respirator use, the employer must provide the employee with a medical examination in accordance with paragraph (j)(3)(i)(B) of this section to determine whether or not the employee can use a respirator while performing the required duty. - (3) Respirator selection. (i) Employers must: - (A) Select, and provide to employees, the appropriate respirators specified in paragraph (d)(3)(i)(A) of 29 CFR 1910.134. - (B) Provide employees with a full facepiece respirator instead of a half mask respirator for protection against lead aerosols that may cause eye or skin irritation at the use concentrations. - (C) Provide HEPA filters for powered and non-powered air-purifying respirators. - (ii) The employer must provide a powered air-purifying respirator when an employee chooses to use such a respirator and it will provide adequate protection to the employee. - (g) Protective work clothing and equipment -(1) Provision and use. Where an employee is exposed to lead above the PEL without regard to the use of respirators, where employees are exposed to lead compounds which may cause skin or eye irritation (e.g. lead arsenate, lead azide), and as interim protection for employees performing tasks as specified in paragraph (d)(2) of this section, the employer shall provide at no cost to the employee and assure that the employee uses appropriate protective work clothing and equipment that prevents contamination of the employee and the employee's garments such as, but not limited to: …

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## 29 CFR 1910 (OSHA) 1. In your present job, are you working at high altitudes (over 5,000 feet) or in a place that has lower than normal amounts of oxygen: Yes/No If 'yes,' do you have feelings of dizziness, shortness of breath, pounding in your chest, or other symptoms when you're working under these conditions: Yes/No 2. At work or at home, have you ever been exposed to hazardous solvents, hazardous airborne chemicals ( e.g., gases, fumes, or dust), or have you come into skin contact with hazardous chemicals: Yes/No If 'yes,' name the chemicals if you know them:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 3. Have you ever worked with any of the materials, or under any of the conditions, listed below: a. Asbestos: Yes/No b. Silica ( e.g., in sandblasting): Yes/No c. Tungsten/cobalt ( e.g., grinding or welding this material): Yes/No d. Beryllium: Yes/No e. Aluminum: Yes/No f. Coal (for example, mining): Yes/No g. Iron: Yes/No h. Tin: Yes/No i. Dusty environments: Yes/No j. Any other hazardous exposures: Yes/No If 'yes,' describe these exposures:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 4. List any second jobs or side businesses you have:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 5. List your previous occupations:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 6. List your current and previous hobbies:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 7. Have you been in the military services? Yes/No If 'yes,' were you exposed to biological or chemical agents (either in training or combat): Yes/No 8. Have you ever worked on a HAZMAT team? Yes/No 9. Other than medications for breathing and lung problems, heart trouble, blood pressure, and seizures mentioned earlier in th…

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## 29 CFR 1910 (OSHA) - (B) All respirators maintained for use in emergency situations shall be inspected at least monthly and in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, and shall be checked for proper function before and after each use; and - (C) Emergency escape-only respirators shall be inspected before being carried into the workplace for use. - (ii) The employer shall ensure that respirator inspections include the following: - (A) A check of respirator function, tightness of connections, and the condition of the various parts including, but not limited to, the facepiece, head straps, valves, connecting tube, and cartridges, canisters or filters; and - (B) A check of elastomeric parts for pliability and signs of deterioration. - (iii) In addition to the requirements of paragraphs (h)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section, self-contained breathing apparatus shall be inspected monthly. Air and oxygen cylinders shall be maintained in a fully charged state and shall be recharged when the pressure falls to 90% of the manufacturer's recommended pressure level. The employer shall determine that the regulator and warning devices function properly. - (iv) For respirators maintained for emergency use, the employer shall: - (A) Certify the respirator by documenting the date the inspection was performed, the name (or signature) of the person who made the inspection, the findings, required remedial action, and a serial number or other means of identifying the inspected respirator; and - (B) Provide this information on a tag or label that is attached to the storage compartment for the respirator, is kept with the respirator, or is included in inspection reports stored as paper or electronic files. This information shall be maintained until replaced following a subsequent certification. - (4) Repairs. The employer shall ensure that respirators that fail an inspection or are otherwise found to be defective are removed from service, and are discarded or repaired or adjuste…

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## 29 CFR 1910 (OSHA) - (v) Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators; - (vi) Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmospheresupplying respirators; - (vii) Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations; - (viii) Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and - (ix) Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program. - (2) Where respirator use is not required: - (i) 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. If the employer determines that any voluntary respirator use is permissible, the employer shall provide the respirator users with the information contained in appendix D to this section ('Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard'); and - (ii) 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). - (3) 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 requir…

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## 29 CFR 1910 (OSHA) - (3) The employer shall provide the training prior to requiring the employee to use a respirator in the workplace. - (4) An employer who is able to demonstrate that a new employee has received training within the last 12 months that addresses the elements specified in paragraph (k)(1)(i) through (vii) is not required to repeat such training provided that, as required by paragraph (k)(1), the employee can demonstrate knowledge of those element(s). Previous training not repeated initially by the employer must be provided no later than 12 months from the date of the previous training. - (5) Retraining shall be administered annually, and when the following situations occur: - (i) Changes in the workplace or the type of respirator render previous training obsolete; - (ii) Inadequacies in the employee's knowledge or use of the respirator indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill; or - (iii) Any other situation arises in which retraining appears necessary to ensure safe respirator use. - (6) The basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in appendix D of this section, shall be provided by the employer in any written or oral format, to employees who wear respirators when such use is not required by this section or by the employer. - (l) Program evaluation. This section requires the employer to conduct evaluations of the workplace to ensure that the written respiratory protection program is being properly implemented, and to consult employees to ensure that they are using the respirators properly. - (1) The employer shall conduct evaluations of the workplace as necessary to ensure that the provisions of the current written program are being effectively implemented and that it continues to be effective. - (2) The employer shall regularly consult employees required to use respirators to assess the employees' views on program effectiveness and to identify any problems. Any problems that are identified d…