The Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134) contains information collection requirements that require employers to:
- Develop a written respirator program;
- Conduct worker medical evaluations and provide follow-up medical evaluations to determine the worker’s ability to use a respirator;
- Provide the physician or other licensed healthcare professional with information about the worker’s respirator and the conditions under which the worker will use the respirator; and
- Administer fit tests for workers who will use negative- or positive-pressure, tight-fitting facepieces.
In addition, employers must ensure that:
- Workers store emergency-use respirators in compartments clearly marked as containing emergency-use respirators.
For respirators maintained for emergency use, employers must label or tag the respirator with a certificate stating:
- the date of the inspection,
- the name of the individual who did the inspection,
- the findings of the inspection, required remedial action, and
- the identity of the respirator
The Standard also requires employers to ensure that cylinders used to supply breathing air to respirators have a certificate of analysis from the supplier stating that the breathing air meets the requirements for Type 1—Grade D breathing air; such certification assures employers that the purchased breathing air is safe.
Compressors used to supply breathing air to respirators must have a tag containing the most recent change date and the signature of the individual authorized by the employer to perform the change. Employers must maintain this tag at the compressor. These tags provide assurance that the compressors are functioning properly.