PPE - Emergency Response & Recovery Workers (Need for Respiratory Protection)

Respiratory protection is a large factor of many emergency response PPE. Respiratory protection is necessary to protect against harmful levels of particulates, chemical vapors, biological agents, and other airborne contaminants. These workplace harms require a respiratory protection program that meets OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.134, which you learned about in detail. Respiratory protection programs require fit testing and training for workers, medical evaluation, monitoring, and selection of appropriate respirators (and cartridges, if required).

According to OSHA's webpage PPE for Emergency Response and Recovery Workers, respiratory protection "may also be necessary if workers must pass through or may encounter toxic atmospheres (such as dust, mists, gases, or vapors) or oxygen-deficient areas, including while conducting rescue operations and during evacuations." The table linked in the source below describes some of these categories.

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