The fundamental goal of any respiratory protection program is to protect workers against any adverse health effect caused by inhalation of contaminants in the work environment. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134) requires that each respiratory protection program must include a written plan detailing how the program will be administered. In addition to having a written program, the employer must also be able to demonstrate that the program is enforced and updated as necessary. The OSHA small entity compliance guide 
[PDF - 5.61 MB]
is intended to help small businesses comply with the Respiratory Protection standard. It provides guidance only, and does not alter or determine compliance responsibilities, which are set forth in OSHA standards and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The written plan includes the following, as applicable to address the identified hazards of your worksite (items in bold are required, as applicable, for all worksites; and the others are optional):
[PDF - 5.61 MB] is intended to help small businesses comply with the Respiratory Protection standard. It provides guidance only, and does not alter or determine compliance responsibilities, which are set forth in OSHA standards and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The written plan includes the following, as applicable to address the identified hazards of your worksite (items in bold are required, as applicable, for all worksites; and the others are optional):- Procedure for selecting respirators for use in the workplace
- Medical evaluation of employees required to wear respirators
- Fit testing procedures for tight fitting respirators
- Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations
- Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, and discarding and otherwise maintaining respirators
- Procedure to ensure adequate quality, quantity and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying air respirators
- Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use and their maintenance
- Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program
- Procedures for ensuring that workers who voluntarily wear respirators (excluding filtering facepieces) comply with the medical evaluation, and cleaning, storing and maintenance requirements of the standard
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