Employee Fitness for Respirator Use through Medical Evaluations

Once employers have identified the workplace hazards and selected the respirator that best protects workers, the next step is ensuring that the selected workers are physically able to perform the work while using the selected respirator. To make this conclusion, employers must enlist the help of a local physician or licensed healthcare professional (LHCP). The LHCP will conduct a medical evaluation by using a medical questionnaire. According to OSHA, "the employer must obtain a written recommendation from the LHCP for each employee's ability to wear a respirator. Additional medical evaluations must be provided whenever healthcare professionals deem them appropriate."

Employers must make sure that this evaluation is completed before the employee undergoes the fit test or performs any work with the respirator.

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