• Employers should eliminate or reduce atmospheric hazards in the workplace such as dust, smoke, fumes, vapors and more.
• Respiratory protection must be supplied to all employees when atmospheric hazards are present.

Hazards to the lungs are not always easy to detect. Some of the most common hazards are the lack of oxygen and the presence of harmful dust, fogs, smokes, mists, fumes, gases, vapors, or sprays including substances that may cause cancer, lung impairment, other diseases, or death.

In these instances, respiratory protection is necessary to prevent these harmful substances from entering the lungs during breathing. Some respirators contain filters to catch and contain the contaminants while others provide a separate supply of breathable air so work can be performed where there is inadequate oxygen, or where greater protection is needed.

Eliminating or reducing atmospheric hazards through engineering controls is the first step an employer should take, such as enclosing or confining the contaminant-producing operation, exhausting the contaminant, or substituting a chemical with a less toxic material. However, in instances where effective engineering controls are not feasible, while those controls are being installed, or during clean-up operations, appropriate respiratory protection must be provided to exposed employees.

The employer needs to understand that respirators do have limitations and are not substitutes for effective engineering controls or work practices. Where respirators are necessary for health protection, a specific written plan and procedures are necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the equipment and the safety of the employees using it.

Employers are responsible for establishing an effective respirator program — different hazards require different respirators — and employees are responsible for wearing the respirators and complying with the employer’s program.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard for respiratory protection is detailed in 1910.134 — Respiratory protection, and appendices (Appendix A — Fit Testing Procedures, Appendix B-1 — User Seal Check Procedures, Appendix B-2 — Respirator Cleaning Procedures, Appendix C — OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire, and Appendix D — Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under Standard).