Respiratory Protection

Hazard Overview

What is a respirator?

A respirator is a device that is designed to protect the wearer from inhaling hazardous atmospheres. Respirators are divided into two broad categories: atmosphere purifying and atmosphere supplying.

What are the hazards associated with respiratory protection?

Hazards associated with respiratory protection affect the health of the individual and can arise as the result of the type of respirator used, as well as the type of hazardous atmosphere against which they are worn. The use of an air-purifying respirator in an oxygen-deficient or IDLH atmosphere, such as can be found in a permit-required confined space, can result in serious physical harm or even death. Similarly, the use of an atmosphere-supplying respirator connected to a non-respirable type of gas can also yield the same outcome. The use of an air-purifying respirator that is equipped with an incorrect cartridge or canister or which has an APF (assigned protection factor) that is too low for the concentration of air contaminant present can result in acute and chronic illness as the result of overexposure to the air contaminants.

Solutions

What can I do to protect myself?

Employees working in conditions that require the use of respirators should never use one until they have been medically evaluated to ensure that using a respirator will not be harmful due to an underlying medical condition. When the use of a tight-fitting respirator is approved, be sure to check that all parts function properly and that it is donned correctly. In addition, be sure that the type of respirator chosen will protect against the air contaminants to which you will be exposed.

What resources are available to assist employers?

Safety and Health Programs

Example respiratory protection programs are available which should be customized to fit the conditions and atmospheric hazards to be encountered in the workplace. An example PPE hazard assessment is also available for customization to fit workplace conditions. Employers are required to perform a workplace hazard analysis to determine what personal protective equipment is necessary to protect employees from continued exposure to identified hazards.

Training and Outreach Services

The respiratory protection and personal protective equipment PowerPoint presentations can be modified to meet the employer's needs.

In addition, the education, training and technical assistance bureau provides free online safety and health training and outreach services (i.e., speaker's bureau requests, safety booths) upon request. The following pre-recorded webinars are also available to assist with training; personal protective equipment for construction with a focus on COVID-19, personal protective equipment for general industry with a focus on COVID-19, respiratory protection with a focus on COVID-19,  N95 filtering facepiece respirator and COVID-19 and respiratory protection.  

Federal OSHA also has videos available for training employees: respiratory protection training (Short online training videos on respirators in English and Spanish), putting on and taking off respirators (Spanish), higher risk jobs need extra protections to keep workers safe, quick safety tips for assembly lines (Spanish), and quick tips for delivery services (Spanish). Further, the Centers for Disease Control has videos on handwashing (English) (Spanish) and various other videos on COVID-19 (English) (Spanish).

Lastly, the NCDOL Library offers free safety and health videos (including streaming video services) and related research assistance on consensus standards (i.e., ANSI, NFPA, NEC).

A-Z Safety and Health Topics

More related information can be found on other A-Z topics pages such as personal protective equipment, hazard communication, lead, isocyanates, hexavalent chromium, silica, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), asbestos and HAZWOPER. 

Consultation Services

The consultative services bureau provides free and confidential onsite consultation regarding worksite safety and health hazards.

Regulations

Which standards apply?

OSH has adopted the following standards for respiratory protection in North Carolina. Note: Please also check the standards information and activity webpage to see if there has been any recent or upcoming regulatory activity on this topic. 

General Industry

• 29 CFR 1910.134 - respiratory protection

Maritime, Shipyard Employment

• 29 CFR 1915.154 - respiratory protection

Construction

• 29 CFR 1926.103 - respiratory protection

OSH standards that reference the respiratory protection standard include:

General Industry

• 29 CFR 1910.94 - ventilation

• 29 CFR 1910.272 - grain handling facilities

• 29 CFR 1910 Subpart Z - toxic and hazardous substances (most of the health standards)

Construction

• 29 CFR 1926.55 - ventilation

• 29 CFR 1926.59 - hazard communication

• 29 CFR 1926.60 - methylenedianline

• 29 CFR 1926.62 - lead

• 29 CFR 1926.65 - HAZWOPER

• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart Z - toxic and hazardous substances (most of the health standards)

Other Applicable Standards

Further, the Which OSHA Standards Apply webpage can also help identify other standards that may be applicable to your worksite.

Learn More

Where can I learn more?

Compliance Documents

• OSH Temporary Enforcement Guidance Memorandum: Temporary Enforcement Guidance - Healthcare Respiratory Protection Annual Fit-Testing for N95 Filtering Facepieces During the COVID-19 Outbreak

• OSH Enforcement Guidance Memorandum: Enforcement Guidance for Respiratory Protection and the N95 Shortage Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

• OSH Temporary Guidance Memorandum: Temporary Guidance on Migrant Housing for COVID-19 Impacted Workers

• OSH Enforcement Guidance Memorandum: Enforcement Guidance For Use of Respiratory Protection Equipment Certified Under Standards of Other Countries or Jurisdictions During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

• OSH Interim Guidance Memorandum: Interim Guidance on COVID-19 Use of Filtering Facepiece Respirators After Their Expiration Date

• OSH Expanded Temporary Enforcement Memorandum: Expanded Temporary Enforcement Guidance on Respiratory Protection Fit-Testing for N95 Filtering Facepieces in All Industries During the Coronavirus 2019 Pandemic

• Field Operations Manual Chapter 15: Industrial Hygiene Compliance provides citation guidance for the respiratory protection standard. 

• Compliance Directive: CPL 02-00-158, Inspection Procedures for the Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 CFR 1910.134, establishes an enforcement policy and provides an explanation of the standard to ensure uniform enforcement.

• Compliance Directive: OPN 127 establishes enforcement policy and provides a clarification regarding the use of respirators for protection against cotton dust for extended workshifts.

• Standards Notice: SN 55 provides interpretive guidance regarding the OSH Division enforcement of the use of respirators when facial hair is present.

• Standards Notice: SN 63 Requirements for Workers Who Are Actively Conducting Operations in IDLH Atmospheres discusses the requirements for workers conducting operations in atmospheres classified as being immediately dangerous to life and health.

• Standards Notice: SN 68 provides interpretive guidance regarding the OSH Division enforcement of voluntary use of non-NIOSH approved respirators.

Fact Sheets/Guidance

• OSH Fact Sheet: Facemasks vs. Respirators

• OSHA Fact Sheet: Seven Steps to Correctly Wear a Respirator at Work 

• OSHA Guidance on Cloth Face Coverings (FAQs)  

Hazard Alerts

• OSH Hazard Alert: Controlling Exposures to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus

• OSH Hazard Alert: Dealing with COVID-19 in Construction  

• OSH Hazard Alert: Respiratory Protection for Long-Term Care Workers

Industry Guides

• Industry Guide 44 - A  Guide to Respiratory Protection.

• Industry Guide 48 - OSHA Construction Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training provides requirements for standards related to respiratory protection in construction.

• Industry Guide 49 - OSHA General Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training provides requirements for standards related to respiratory protection in general industry.

• Industry Guide 53 - OSHA Shipyard Employment Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training highlights the requirements of standards related to respiratory protection in shipyard employment.

Technical Assistance

If you would like to receive interpretive guidance on this or any other OSH standard or topic, you can submit your questions using the Ask OSH web form, by e-mail to ask.osh@labor.nc.gov or by calling 919-707-7876.