Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 004B Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): 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): At a facility located at 206 Charles Street, Oconto, WI 54153; the employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program for employees provided with voluntary use respirators. Employees working in the Finishing and Small Parts Finishing areas were provided with 3M half-face tight-fitting elastomeric respirators with particulate filters for voluntary use. A voluntary use respiratory protection program must contain in a written respiratory protection program. Key provision include, but are not limited to the following: 1) Medical evaluations for respirator use 2) Information/training on maintenance, use and care 3) Recordkeeping