OSHA REVISED RESPIRATORY PROTECTION STANDARDS

OSHA Standards for Respiratory Protection

Respiratory Protection Standard 19.10.134

• General industry standard: protect health of employees from harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays, or vapors
  
• Applies to all occupational airborne exposures to contaminated air when the employee is:
  • exposed to a hazardous level of an airborne contaminant
  • required by the employer to wear a respirator, or
  • permitted to wear a respirator
    
• Four major duties are imposed by the standard:
  • Use environmental controls where feasible to control the hazard;
  • Provide an appropriate respirator
  • Ensure the use of an appropriate respirator, and
  • Institute a respiratory protection program

Respiratory Protection Standard 1910.139

• Applies only to respiratory protection for M. tuberculosis
  (withdrawn 12/31/2003, with grace period for implementation until July 1, 2004)

Respiratory Protection Standard 1910.134

• Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134)
  OSHA standard on respiratory protection, not including appendices.
• Fit Testing Procedures (Mandatory)
  Appendix A to Respiratory Protection Standard; OSHA-accepted fit test protocols, new fit test protocols.
• User Seal Check Procedures (Mandatory)
  Appendix B-1 to Respiratory Protection Standard; facepiece positive and/or negative pressure checks, manufacturer’s recommended user seal check procedures.
• Respirator Cleaning Procedures (Mandatory)
  Appendix B-2 to Respiratory Protection Standard; procedures for cleaning respirators.
• OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire (Mandatory)
  Appendix C to Respiratory Protection Standard; respirator medical evaluation questionnaire.
• Information for Employees Using Respirators When not Required Under Standard (Mandatory)
  Appendix D to Respiratory Protection Standard; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  Respirator use is encouraged, even when exposures are below the exposure limit, to provide an additional level of comfort and protection for workers. If your employer provides respirators for your voluntary use, or if you provide your own respirator, you need to take certain precautions to be sure that the respirator itself does not present a hazard.

Small Entity Compliance Guide

OSHA: This guide does not replace this official Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). The reader of this document must also refer to 1910.134 to ensure compliance.

This section applies to General Industry, Ship yards, Marine Terminals, Long shoring, and Construction.

• Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Revised Respiratory Protection Standard (PDF)
  OSHA: This guide is intended to help small businesses comply with the Respiratory Protection standard. It provides guidance only, and does not alter or determine compliance responsibilities, which are set forth in OSHA standards and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. 9/30/1998.
• APPENDIX II to Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Revised Respiratory Protection Standard: OSHA Area and Regional Offices, States With Consultation Programs and Approved OSHA Plans
  • Minnesota: Consultation Programs and Approved State Plans
• Appendix III to Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Revised Respiratory Protection Standard: Questions and Answers on the Respiratory Protection standard
  Updated 12/2003.