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An estimated 5 million workers are required to wear respirators in 1.3 million workplaces throughout the United States. Respirators protect workers against insufficient oxygen environments, harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors, and sprays. These hazards may cause cancer, lung impairment, other diseases, or death. Compliance with the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard could avert hundreds of deaths and thousands of illnesses annually.

Respiratory Protection is addressed in standards specifically for the general, shipyard employment, marine terminals, longshoring, and construction industries.

OSHA Standards

This section highlights OSHA standards, the Regulatory Agenda (a list of actions being taken with regard to OSHA standards), preambles to final rules (background to final rules), Federal Registers (rules, proposed rules, and notices), directives (instructions for compliance officers), standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards) and publications related to respiratory protection.

Note: Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

OSHA's revised Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134 and 29 CFR 1926.103) went into effect April 8, 1998. The final standard replaces the respiratory protection standards adopted by OSHA in 1971. The 29 CFR 1910.139 respirator standard that applied only to respiratory protection against Mycobacterium Tuberculosis was withdrawn December 31, 2003. Establishments whose respirator protection programs for tuberculosis formerly covered under 29 CFR 1910.139 were required to adapt their programs to comply with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.134, effective July 2, 2004.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910 Subpart I
  • 1910.134, Respiratory protection
    • Appendix A, Fit testing procedures (Mandatory)
    • Appendix B-1, User seal check procedures (Mandatory)
    • Appendix B-2, Respiratory cleaning procedures (Mandatory)
    • Appendix C, OSHA respirator medical evaluation questionnaire (Mandatory)
      
    • Spanish Language Translation of the OSHA medical evaluation questionaire (Mandatory)
    • Appendix D, Information for employees using respirators when not required under standard (Mandatory)
    • Spanish Language Translation of the information for employees using respirators when not required under the standard. Also available in Questions and Answers on the Respiratory Protection Standard [337 KB PDF^*, 82 pages]. (1998, August 17). See Attachments 1 and 4.
      
      
• The following standards include respiratory protection elements that may be affected by the revised standard 29 CFR 1910.134.
• 1910 Subpart L, Fire protection 
  • 1910.156, Fire brigades [related topic page]
  • Appendix A, Fire protection
    
    
• 1910 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances [related topic page]
  • 1910.1000, Air contaminants 
  • 1910.1001, Asbestos [related topic page]
  • 1910.1017, Vinyl chloride
  • 1910.1018, Inorganic arsenic [related topic page]
  • 1910.1025, Lead [related topic page]
  • 1910.1026, Chromium (VI) [related topic page]
  • 1910.1027, Cadmium [related topic page]
  • 1910.1028, Benzene [related topic page]
  • 1910.1029, Coke oven emissions
  • 1910.1044, 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane
  • 1910.1045, Acrylonitrile
  • 1910.1047, Ethylene oxide [related topic page]
  • 1910.1048, Formaldehyde [related topic page]
  • 1910.1050, Methylenedianiline
  • 1910.1051, 1,3-butadiene [related topic page]
  • 1910.1052, Methylene chloride [related topic page]

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

• 1915 Subpart I, Personal protective Equipment
  • 1915.154, Respiratory protection
    
    
• 1915 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances
  • 1915.1001, Asbestos
  • 1915.1026, Chromium (VI)

Marine Terminals (29 CFR 1917)

• 1917 Subpart E, Personal protection
  • 1917.92, Respiratory protection

Longshoring (29 CFR 1918)

• 1918 Subpart J, Personal protective equipment
  • 1918.102, Respiratory protection

Construction (29 CFR 1926)

• 1926 Subpart D, Occupational health and environmental controls
  • 1926.60, Methylenedianiline
  • 1926.62, Lead [related topic page]
    
    
• 1926 Subpart E, Personal protective and life saving equipment [related topic page]
  • 1926.103, Respiratory protection
    
    
• 1926 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances
  • 1926.1101, Asbestos
  • 1926.1127, Cadmium
  • 1926.1126, Chromium (VI)

Preambles to Final Rules

• Respiratory Protection (1998)
  
  
• Search all available preambles to final rules.

Federal Registers

• Assigned Protection Factors; Final Rule. Final Rules 71:50121-50192, (2006, August 24). Revises the existing Respiratory Protection Standard to add definitions and requirements for Assigned Protection Factors (APFs) and Maximum Use Concentrations (MUCs). The revisions also supersede the respirator selection provisions of existing substance-specific standards with these new APFs (except for the respirator selection provisions of the 1,3-Butadiene Standard).
  
  
• Assigned Protection Factors. Proposed Rules 69:16510-16511, (2004, March 30). Extends the deadline for receipt of post-hearing public comments and briefs on its proposed "Assigned Protection Factors" rule.
  
  
• Assigned Protection Factors; Proposed Rule. Proposed Rules 68:34035-34119, (2003, June 6). Also available as a 2 MB PDF, 85 pages. Seeks to revise the existing Respiratory Protection Standard to add definitions and specific requirements for assigned protection factors (APFs) and maximum use concentrations (MUCs).
  
  
• Controlled Negative Pressure REDON Fit Testing Protocol. Proposed Rules 68:33887-33894, (2003, June 6). Proposes to approve an additional controlled negative pressure (CNP) fit testing protocol for its Respiratory Protection Standard.
  
  
• Occupational Exposure to Tuberculosis; Proposed Rule; Termination of Rulemaking Respiratory Protection for M. Tuberculosis; Final Rule; Revocation. Proposed Rules 68:75767-75775, (2003, December 31). OSHA withdrew its 1997 proposed standard on Occupational Exposure to Tuberculosis (TB) because it was unlikely to result in a meaningful reduction of disease transmission caused by contact with the most significant remaining source of occupational risk exposure to individuals with undiagnosed and unsuspected TB.
  
  
• Respiratory Protection Standard; Extension of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Approval of the Information-Collection (Paperwork) Requirements. Notice 66:22016-22017, (2001, May 2). Solicits comments concerning its proposal to decrease the existing burden-hour estimates, and to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the collection-of-information requirements of the Respiratory Protection Standard.
  
  
• 42 CFR Part 84 Respiratory Protective Devices [386 KB PDF, 149 pages]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), (1995, June 2). Provides a technical summary of the above rule.
  
  
• Search all available Federal Registers.

Directives

• Respiratory Protection Program Guidelines. CPL 02-02-054 [CPL 2-254A], (2000, July 14). Sets forth guidelines for establishing and implementing an OSHA respirator program to ensure that all OSHA employees are protected from exposure to respiratory hazards.
  
  
• Inspection procedures for the Respiratory Protection Standard. CPL 02-00-120 [CPL 2-0.120], (1998, September 25). Establishes agency interpretations and enforcement policies, and provides instructions to ensure uniform enforcement of the Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134).
  
  
• 29 CFR 1910.134(e)(5)-- Respirator Fit-Testing. CPL 02-02-29 [CPL 2-2.29], (1980, October 27). Provides guidance regarding enforcement policy for the respirator fit-testing requirement under 29 CFR 1910.134(e)(5).
  
  
• Search all available directives.

Standard Interpretations

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Protection. (2004, July 30). Defines the new enforcement policy for tuberculosis under 29 CFR 1910.134. Effective July 2, 2004, covered establishments must comply with 29 CFR 1910.134 when using respirators for protection from tuberculosis (TB). 
  • Comparison of Respiratory Protection for TB Standard (29 CFR 1910.139) with 29 CFR 1910.134. Also available as a 132 KB PDF, 29 pages. Most of the requirements in 29 CFR 1910.134, and the former 29 CFR 1910.139 are basically the same, however five areas now have more detailed requirements.
    
    
• Respiratory protection requirements for hospital staff decontaminating chemically contaminated patients. (2002, September 5).
  
  
• Preemption of respiratory protection standard by DOT's Office of Pipeline Safety regulations. (1999, April 8).
  
  
• Clarification of the medical evaluation provisions of the revised respiratory protection standard. (1998, November 16).
  
  
• Questions and answers regarding the respiratory protection standard. (1998, October 16).
  
  
• Medical evaluation requirements under the respiratory protection standard. (1998, October 5).
  
  
• Conduct of respiratory protection medical evaluations by medical technicians. (1998, October 16).
  
  
• The OSHA interpretation of respiratory protection requirements with regards to tuberculosis (TB) exposure. (1996, February 5).
  
  
• Search all available standard interpretations.

Publications

• Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Respiratory Protection Standard [5 MB PDF^*, 124 pages]. OSHA Publication 3384-09, (2011). Provides small entities with a comprehensive step-by-step guide complete with checklists and commonly asked questions that will aid both employees and employers in small businesses with a better understanding of OSHA’s respiratory protection standard.
  • Questions and Answers on the Respiratory Protection Standard [242 KB PDF^*, 82 pages]. (1998, August 3). Provides questions and answers relating to each paragraph of the Respiratory Protection Standard. A Spanish translation of the Medical Questionnaire (Appendix C) is included at the end of the document.

Hazard Recognition

Many workers are unaware of the potential hazards present in their work environment, which makes them more vulnerable to injury. The following references aid in recognizing and evaluating respiratory hazards in the workplace.

• Respirators. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Workplace Safety and Health Topic, National Personal Protective Technology Library (NPPTL). Provides a list of links to topics pertaining to respirators.
  • Respirator Trusted-Source Information Page. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Provides information to understand the types of respirators, how to identify approved models and outlets for purchase, how to implement the use of respirators in the workplace and use them appropriately, and includes commonly asked questions and answers (fact sheets), respirator myths, the science of respirator function and performance, and respiratory protective devices not approved by NIOSH.
  • TB Respiratory Protection Program in Health Care Facilities Administrator's Guide. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 99-143, (1999, September). Serves as a practical guide for those individuals responsible for initiating and running a tuberculosis respiratory protection program in health care facilities.
  • NIOSH Guide to Industrial Respiratory Protection. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 87-116, (1987, September). Covers types of respirators, guidance for selection and use, and user notices.
  • NIOSH Respirator User Notices. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Provides user notices (a written notice provided to inform users of a condition or risk that may exist with a NIOSH-certified product).
• What You Should Know in Deciding Whether to Buy Escape Hoods, Gas Masks, or Other Respirators for Preparedness at Home and Work. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Personal Protective Technology Library (NPPTL). Provides information about respirators, how they work, and what is needed for a respirator to provide protection.
  
  
• New NIOSH Method Offers Faster Way To Identify Risk For Job-Related Histoplasmosis. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (2002, December 16). Discusses a method developed by NIOSH for a faster, more cost effective way to determine if workers are at risk of exposure to fungal spores that can cause histoplasmosis, a respiratory infection.
  
  
• NIOSH-DOD-OSHA Sponsored Chemical and Biological Respiratory Protection Workshop Report. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 2000-122, (2000, February). Provides technical workshop sessions where over 140 subject matter experts discussed chemical and biological terrorism issues.
  
  
• MSA Portal-Pack Units Pose Significant User Risk, Should Be Replaced Immediately with Certified Substitutes. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (1997, November 14). Informs users that chemical fragments and fine particles may be present in the breathing tube of the Portal-Pack® self-contained self-rescuer (SCSR), manufactured by Mine Safety Appliances Co. (MSA).
  
  
• Histoplasmosis — Protecting Workers at Risk. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005-109, (2004, December). Helps readers understand what histoplasmosis is, recognize activities with risks for exposure to H. capsulatum, and learn ways to protect themselves and others from exposure.
  

Possible Solutions

Engineering and work practice controls are generally regarded as the most effective methods of controlling exposure to hazardous airborne substances. Respiratory equipment is designed to prevent or lessen the severity of injuries to workers when engineering the administrative controls are not feasible or effective in reducing exposures to acceptable levels. The following references provide possible solutions for respiratory hazards.

• Respiratory Protection. OSHA eTool. Offers expert assistance to businesses seeking to comply with the new respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134) and provides information on the development of respirator cartridge change schedules. Also, addresses respirator selection, and other requirements of the standard.
  • Respirator Change Schedules. Links to a series of pages that present possible approaches to developing these schedules.
  • The Advisor Genius
    • MultiVapor Beta Version 2.2.3. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Provides a program for calculating the estimated breakthrough time for a respirator cartridge's service life.
      
      
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
  
  
• Ventilation. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
  
  
• OSHA's new guidance document focuses on mandatory respirator selection provisions added to existing Respiratory Protection standard. OSHA Trade News Release, (2009, April 1). Announces a new OSHA guidance document which provides employers with vital information for selecting respirators for employees exposed to contaminants in the air.
  
  
• Seasonal Influenza (Flu). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  • Seasonal Influenza (Flu) in the Workplace. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Workplace Safety and Health Topic.
    • Guidelines and Recommendations: Prevention Strategies for Seasonal Influenza in Healthcare Settings
    • NIOSH Activities: Respiratory Protection Research
      
      
• H1N1 Flu
  • Pandemic Flu Respiratory Protection. OSHA QuickCard. Also available as a 26 KB PDF, 1 page. [En Español: HTML PDF]
    
    
  • Respiratory Infection Control: Respirators Versus Surgical Masks. OSHA Fact Sheet. Also available as 47 KB PDF, 2 pages. [En Español: HTML PDF]
    
    
  • Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic. OSHA Publication 3327-02N, (2007). Also available as a 371 KB PDF, 47 pages.
    • The Difference Between a Surgical Mask and a Respirator
      
      
  • Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers. OSHA Publication 3328-05, (2007). Also available as a 405 KB PDF, 104 pages.
    
    
  • 2009 H1N1 Flu. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Pages.
    • Interim Guidance on Infection Control for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel
    • Interim Public Health Guidance for the Use of Facemasks and Respirators in Non-Occupational Community Settings during an Influenza Pandemic. (2007, May). Also available as a 116 KB PDF, 13 pages.
    • Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use to Reduce 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Transmission
      
      
• Wildfires. OSHA. Includes links to OSHA fact sheets & QuickCards, related Safety and Health Topics Pages, training programs, and other resources.
  
  
• Hurricane Preparedness and Response. OSHA. Includes information such as news releases, public service announcements, fact sheets, frequently asked questions, and more.
  
  
• Emergency Response Resources. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Workplace Safety and Health Topic. Links to a range of respiratory topics aimed at protecting emergency response workers.
  
  
• Personal Protective Equipment: Respirators. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  
  
• Respirators. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Workplace Safety and Health Topic, National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Provides a list of links to topics pertaining to respirators.
  • NIOSH Respirator Selection Logic 2004. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005-100, (2004, October). Includes procedure for selecting suitable classes of respirators for particular concentrations of specific contaminants. An online version, of this decision logic is available as part of the OSHA Respiratory Protection eTool.
  • NIOSH Guide to the Selection and Use of Particulate Respirators Certified Under 42 CFR 84. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 96-101, (1996, January). Includes both a summary and detailed guidelines for respirator use.
  • Fact Sheet for Workers in Secondary Response and Other Supporting Roles at the World Trade Center [45 KB PDF, 4 pages]. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (2001, September). Provides questions and answer about exposure to dusts and gases.
  • Certification Program Support for Respirator Manufacturers. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Provides links intended to enhance and centralize support services to respirator manufacturers.
  • CBRN Respirator Standards Development: Full Facepiece Air Purifying Respirators (APR). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the US Army Soldier Biological and Chemical Command (SBCCOM), and the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) have coordinated efforts to develop appropriate standards and test procedures for all classes of respirators that will provide respiratory protection from inhalation of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) agents.
  • NIOSH Respirator User Notices. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Provides linksto respirator user notices.
    
    
• Findings of Survey Co-Developed by NIOSH Will Help Respirator Research, Recommendations. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (2002, March 22). Highlights survey findings to aid in developing new recommendations for the use of respirators in workplaces and designing new research projects to improve the effectiveness of respirators.
  
  
• Controlling Exposures to Nitrous Oxide During Anesthetic Administration. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-100, (1994). Requests that safety and health officials, editors of appropriate journals, manufacturers of anesthetic equipment, union representatives, employers, and managers bring the recommendations in this alert to the attention of all workers who are at risk.
  
  
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). National Agriculture Safety Database (NASD). Includes a section of links directed to respiratory protection for the farming industry.
  
  
• Legault, M. and P. Ayers. "Agricultural Respiratory Protective Equipment: Air-Purifying Respirators." National Agriculture Safety Database (NASD), Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, (2002, April). Addresses the selection and use, fit, advantages, and limitations of air-purifying respirators.
  
  
• Cyr D.L. and S.B. Johnson. "Care of Respirators." National Agriculture Safety Database (NASD), University of Maine Cooperative Extension, (2006, September). Provides a summary of respirator maintenance and care procedures.
  
  
• Dose H.J. and W. McLeod. "Respiratory Protection Needed for Many Farm Jobs." National Agriculture Safety Database (NASD), Michigan State University, Center for Michigan Agriculture Safety and Health, (2002, April). Addresses the need for farmers to match respiratory protective devices with the job.
  
  
• Murphy D.J. and C.M. LaCross. "Farm Respiratory Protection." National Agriculture Safety Database (NASD), Pennsylvania State University, (2002, April). Provides steps to determine the kind of respirator needed, description of different respirators, and how to test and care for your respirator.

Additional Information

Related Safety and Health Topics Pages

• Asbestos
  
  
• Biological Agents
  
  
• Emergency Preparedness and Response
  
  
• Formaldehyde
  
  
• Hazardous and Toxic Substances
  
  
• Isocyanates
  
  
• Lead
  
  
• Mold
  
  
• Occupational Asthma
  
  
• Pandemic Influenza
  
  
• Silica, Crystalline
  
  
• Tuberculosis
  
  
• Waste Anesthetic Gases
  
  
• Wood Dust
  
  
• Wood Products Industry

Training

• Respirator Training Videos
  
  
  • OSHA Respiratory Protection Videos. OSHA, (2012, January).
    
    
  • Respiratory Protection for Healthcare Workers. US Department of Labor Video, (2011, January 12). Also available as a downloadable^** version.
    
    
  • The Difference Between Respirators and Surgical Masks. US Department of Labor Video, (2009, December 16).
    • English^**
    • En Español^**
    • Department of Labor's YouTube channel [En Español]
      
      
  • Respirator Safety. Donning (Putting on) and Doffing (Taking off) and User Seal Checks. US Department of Labor Video, (2009, December 16).
    • English^**
    • En Español^**
    • Department of Labor's YouTube channel [En Español]

  ^**These videos may be downloaded by right-clicking on the link and selecting Save Target As or Save Link As.

• Respiratory Protection. OSHA. Offers training and reference materials including slides, presentation information, and frequently asked questions.
  
  
• Respirators: your TB Defense. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-114d, (2002). Provides downloadable videos that take you step-by-step through developing a respiratory protection program, with emphasis on tuberculosis in health care facilities.
  
  
• Respirator Cleaning and Maintenance. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (2001, September). Provides guidance for selecting cleaning equipment, supplies, and procedures for respirator maintenance.
  
  
• Proper Use of a Respirator: Script. National Ag Safety Database (NASD), (2002, April). Offers training script with associated figures and an interactive slide show about how to select a proper respirator for a given exposure.

Other Resources

• NIOSH Respirator User Notice. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (2002, July 3). Informs respirator users that the NIOSH certificates of approval for the Wen Mask Industrial Company model KR-795 N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirator (TC-84A-2531) and the KR-808 N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirator (TC-84A-2532) have been revoked.
  
  
• NIOSH Issues First Approval Under Program for Certifying Emergency Responder Respirators. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (2002, June 3). Signifies NIOSH's approval that the products will protect fire fighters and other responders in the line of duty.
  
  
• Use of Respiratory Protection Among Responders at the World Trade Center Site -- New York City, September 2001. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 51(Special Issue);6-8, (2002, September 11). Addresses the immediate respirator hazards and the challenges of New York City firefighters and rescue workers in responding to the disaster.

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