A respirator is a protective facepiece, hood or helmet that is designed to protect the wearer against a variety of harmful airborne agents.

OSHA’s respirator standard, 29 CFR 1910.134, requires the use of respirators to protect employees from breathing contaminated and/or oxygen-deficient air when effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted. Several other OSHA regulations also require the use of respirators.

No, respirators shall be selected on the basis of hazards to which the worker is exposed (i.e., particulates, vapors, oxygen-deficiency, or combination). Also, OSHA requires the use of certified respirators.

Respirators may be either air purifying or air supplying. Respirators may also be either tight-fitting or loose-fitting.

You may also view the OSHA Counterfeit and Altered Respirators video.

For additional information, you may view the OSHA Respirator Types video.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

A respirator program increases the chances of using a respirator correctly. A respirator will only protect if it is used correctly. Also, OSHA requires a number of written elements for all respiratory protection programs.

The program must be administered by a trained program administrator who is qualified and knowledgeable in respiratory protection to run all aspects of the program. The Montana State University Program is administered by the Safety and Risk Management office.

Employers must establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures and elements for required respirator use. The provisions of the program include procedures for selection, medical evaluation, fit testing, training, use and care of respirators.

Fit testing of all negative or positive pressure tight-fitting facepiece respirators is required prior to initial use, whenever a different respirator facepiece is used, and at least annually thereafter. An additional fit test is required whenever there are changes in the user’s physical condition that could affect respirator fit (e.g., facial scarring, dental changes, cosmetic surgery, or an obvious change in body weight). The employee must be fit tested with the same make, model, style, and size of respirator that will be used.

You may view the OSHA Respirator Safety video which reviews these topics.

The employer must provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee’s ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. Not all workers must be examined by a doctor. A physician or other licensed health care professional must perform the medical evaluation using the medical questionnaire contained in Appendix C of 29 CFR 1910.134 or an initial medical examination that obtains at minimum the same information.

For additional information, you may view the OSHA Medical Evaluation for Workers Who Use Respirators video.

The employer must provide for the cleaning and disinfecting, storage, inspection, and repair of respirators used by employees according to the procedures in 29 CFR 1910.134. Montana State University does not repair respirators. Anytime a respirator is damaged, please contact the Safety and Risk Management office for replacement. Do not use a damaged respirator!

Disposable respirators cannot be disinfected and are therefore assigned to only one person. Disposable respirators must be discarded if they are soiled, physically damaged, or reach the end of their service life. Replaceable filter respirators may be shared but must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each use before being worn by a different person, using the procedures in Appendix B-2 of 29 CFR 1910.134, or equally effective procedures recommended by the manufacturer. Montana State University provides a half-mask respirator to each employee in the Respirator Protection Program.

Respirators with replaceable filters are reusable, and a respirator classified as disposable may be reused by the same worker as long as it functions properly. All filters must be replaced whenever they are damaged, soiled, or causing noticeably increased breathing resistance (e.g., causing discomfort to the wearer). Before each use, the outside of the filter material should be inspected. If the filter material is physically damaged or soiled, the filter should be changed (in the case of respirators with replaceable filters) or the respirator discarded (in the case of disposable respirators). Always follow the respirator filter manufacturer’s service-time-limit recommendations.

If a respirator is not required for the employee’s task, but the employee may have a specific need for respirator, please visit the Disability & Accommodations in Employment page for guidance.

Yes, training must be provided to employees who are required to use respirators. The training must be comprehensive, understandable, and recur annually, and more often if necessary. This training should include at a minimum:

· Why the respirator is necessary and how improper fit, use, or maintenance can compromise its protective effect.

· Limitations and capabilities of the respirator.

· Effective use in emergency situations.

· How to inspect, put on and remove, use and check the seals.

· Maintenance and storage.

· Recognition of medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent effective use.

· General requirements of OSHA’s respirator standard, 29 CFR 1910.134.

You should always be familiar and follow the guidance provided by the manufacturer for your specific respirator. Additionally, you may view the OSHA Maintenance and Care of Respirators video.

Yes, OSHA provides a variety of resources for respirator use in healthcare settings. Here are two resources:

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