PHASE Associates helps organizations develop and maintain comprehensive respiratory protection programs in compliance with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). Our full-service OSHA Respiratory Protection Compliance solutions ensure employees are properly protected when engineering controls are insufficient or respiratory protection is required.
We’ll help you determine and build an OSHA-compliant Respiratory Protection Program for employees exposed to airborne contaminants or working in oxygen-deficient environments. Our team can assess exposures by reviewing job tasks and chemical use through qualitative evaluations, or by conducting quantitative industrial hygiene monitoring to measure employee exposure levels. We’ll also help designate a qualified Respiratory Protection Program Administrator, confirm the right respirator type for the hazards involved (including full-face, half-face, air-purifying respirators, SCBAs, and other required equipment), and provide respirator training and respirator “train the trainer” covering proper use, care, and maintenance. To complete the program, we can support respirator selection and fit testing readiness through review of qualitative and quantitative fit testing needs, and coordinate medical clearance by referring employees to occupational physicians and assisting with respirator medical clearance requirements.
Develop OSHA-compliant Respiratory Protection Programs tailored to your facility’s hazards, job tasks, and exposure risks. Programs include respirator selection criteria, program administration roles, exposure assessment guidance, training requirements, maintenance procedures, and recordkeeping systems to ensure full regulatory compliance.
Evaluate employee exposures through qualitative review of job tasks or quantitative industrial hygiene monitoring to determine respirator needs.
Recommend appropriate respirator types, including full-face, half-face, air-purifying, SCBA, or other specialized respirators to conduct a inhalation assessment to assist in respiratory protection controls to supplement engineering conrols and selection of respirator types, cartridge and sizes.
Provide OSHA-accepted respirator fit testing to ensure proper seal and performance of tight-fitting respirators. Qualitative fit testing methods include Bitrex® (bitter solution) and Saccharin solution aerosol protocols. Quantitative fit testing is performed using calibrated instrumentation such as the TSI PortaCount and/or OHD Quantifit systems to deliver objective fit factor results. Testing supports a full range of respirators, including N95s, half-mask, full-face, and other air-purifying respirators, with selection guidance based on job-specific hazards.
Deliver respiratory protection training in accordance with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134(k), covering proper respirator use, limitations, donning and doffing procedures, user seal checks, maintenance, cleaning, and storage. Training helps employees understand respirator selection, hazard protection, and employer responsibilities under OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard. For voluntary respirator use, PHASE Associates also provides guidance consistent with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 Appendix D, including required employee information for safe respirator use when not otherwise mandated by the employer. Training supports annual refresher requirements, compliance documentation, and OSHA audit readiness.
Coordinate OSHA-compliant respirator medical evaluations through a secure third-party online platform accessible via our website. Employees complete a confidential medical questionnaire reviewed by a licensed healthcare professional (PLHCP) to determine respirator clearance prior to fit testing and use.
OSHA considers respirators to be necessary to protect the health of its employees at those work sites where feasible engineering controls are not available or are not sufficient to protect employee health. It is mandatory for employers to establish and maintain an effective respiratory protection program when employees must wear respirators to protect against workplace hazards. Different hazards require different respirators, and employees are responsible for wearing the appropriate respirator and complying with the respiratory protection program.
The standard contains requirements for program administration, worksite-specific procedures, respirator selection, employee training, fit testing, medical evaluation, respirator use, cleaning, maintenance, and repair, and respirator medical clearance.