Inspections

Employers must ensure that respirators are regularly inspected to ensure their continued effectiveness. These inspections must be conducted on the following basis:

• Respirators used for routine situations must be inspected before each use and during cleaning.
• Respirators kept for emergency situations should be inspected at least monthly and should be checked for proper function before and after each use.
• Emergency escape-only respirators should be inspected before being carried into the workplace for use.

The respirator inspection should include at least the following checks:

• A check for respirator function, tightness of connections, and the condition of various parts, including but not limited to the facepiece, head straps, valves, connecting tube, and cartridges, canisters, or filters
• A check of any elastomeric (bendable) parts for pliability or signs of deterioration

Self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs) must be inspected at least monthly, in addition to all other regularly scheduled inspections. Air and oxygen cylinders should be kept in a fully charged state and should be recharged whenever they fall to 90 percent of the manufacturer's recommended pressure level. Employers must ensure that the regulator and the warning devices work properly.

The inspections of respirators intended for emergency use must be documented. The employer must keep a written record of the date the inspection was conducted, the name and signature of the person who conducted the inspection, the inspection findings, any required corrective actions, and a serial number or other means of identifying the inspected respirator. This information should be kept on a tag or label on the respirator's cabinet, on the respirator itself, or as part of a paper or electronic inspection report.

If any respirator fails inspection for any reason, the employer must immediately remove the respirator from service and either repair it or discard it.

To learn more about Respiratory Protection visit our Cal/OSHA Respiratory Protection Online Training web page.