Safety and Health Topics: Respiratory Protection

Occupational Safety & Health Administration

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In Focus

H1N1 Flu
Hot Topics
eTools

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.

The following questions link to information relevant to respiratory protection in the workplace.

What OSHA standards apply?
Standards | Regulatory Agenda | Preambles to Final Rules | More

How are respiratory hazards recognized?

What are some examples of possible solutions for workplace hazards?

What additional information is available?
Related Safety and Health Topics Pages | Training | Other Resources

In Focus

H1N1 Flu

Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic. OSHA Publication 3327-02N, (2007). Also available as a 371 KB PDF, 47 pages.
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.

Hot Topics

Wildfires

Keeping Workers Safe During Clean Up and Recovery Operations. OSHA. Includes links to OSHA fact sheets & QuickCards, related Safety and Health Topics Pages, training programs, and other resources.

Hurricane Recovery

Keeping Workers Safe During Clean Up and Recovery Operations Following Hurricanes. OSHA. Includes information such as news releases, public service announcements, fact sheets, frequently asked questions, and more.

General

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.
Assigned Protection Factors; Final Rule. OSHA Federal Register 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).

eTools

Respiratory Protection. OSHA. 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.

Safety and
Health Topics

Respiratory Protection

OSHA Standards

Hazard Recognition

Possible Solutions

Additional
Information

Credits

Content Reviewed 05/05/2009

Accessibility Assistance

Contact the OSHA Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management at 202-693-2300 for assistance accessing OSHA PDF materials.

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