Employers may provide ESCAPE-ONLY respirators to those whose ONLY action is to leave the area immediately and take NO part in the response. Escape-only respirators MUST be NIOSH-approved and appropriate for the potential airborne concentration and class of substances specified in the employer’s hazard determination (1910.134(d)). Emergency escape-only respirators must be inspected BEFORE being carried into the workplace for use (1910.134(h)(3)(i)(C)).
All respirators maintained for emergency situations must be inspected at least monthly and in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. They also must be checked for proper function before AND after each use (1910.134(h)(3)(i)(B)). Employees only wearing escape-only respirators do NOT have to be medically evaluated or fit tested, however, the employer would still be responsible for compliance with all other provisions of the respirator standard, as applicable, such as the written program and training requirements.