OSHA's Respiratory Standard

OSHA estimates that 5 million workers in 1.3 million workplaces throughout the United States wear respirators. To ensure these respirators are used properly, employers must follow OSHA's Respiratory Standard.

OSHA's Respiratory Standard requires that employers create and maintain a complete respiratory protection program on worksites with respiratory hazards or oxygen-deficient environments. This program includes the following:

• Program administration
• Worksite-specific procedures
• Respirator selection
• Employee training
• Fit testing
• Medical evaluations
• Respirator use, cleaning, maintenance, and repair

OSHA's Respiratory Standard relies upon several other agencies and their regulations related to respirators. Some, such as medical and airline industry oxygen requirements, will not be covered in this course. However, note that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) must approve all respiratory protective devices. Additionally, breathing air must meet the Grade D breathing air requirements described in Compressed Gas Association (CGA) Commodity Specification G-7.1-1989.

Later, you will learn more about other requirements per OSHA's Respirator Standard, such as employer responsibilities for training, use, and care of respiratory equipment.

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