Respiratory Hazards - Regulations

Employers in the oil and gas extraction industry are required to provide respiratory protection for their workers in keeping with federal standards. Several OSHA standards apply generally to respiratory hazards, as follows:

OSHA Standard - Respiratory Protection (29 CFR 1910.34): This standard governs the respirator selection, use, and training requirements based upon the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of different respiratory hazards.

OSHA Directive - Respiratory Protection Program Guidelines (CPL 2-2.54A): This directive provides employers with guidelines to establish and implement a respiratory protection program that meets the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.34).

OSHA Standard - Air Contaminants (29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1): This standard establishes exposure limits for air contaminants.

OSHA Standard - Hazard Communication (29 CFR 1910.1200): This standard requires that hazardous chemicals are properly classified and that their classification and safety and health risks are communicated to employers and workers.

OSHA and other government agencies have established additional standards and guidelines that relate to specific hazards, such as silica dust exposure.

To learn more about Oil & Gas Extraction visit our Oil & Gas Extraction Safety Online Training web page.