1910.134(d)(2): Respirators for IDLH Atmospheres
Employers must provide either a full facepiece pressure demand SCBA certified by NIOSH for at least thirty minutes, or a full facepiece pressure demand supplied-air respirator with auxiliary self-contained air, for IDLH atmospheres. Escape-only respirators must be NIOSH-certified for that atmosphere, and all oxygen-deficient atmospheres are IDLH unless the employer shows oxygen stays within Table II ranges.
Key takeaways
- 1910.134(d)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 10 times in the last 3 years, in 10 inspections, with $18,100 in current penalties.
- Most citations: WI (2), TX (2), KS (1).
- Related part: 1910.134(d) Selection of respirators (573 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.134(d)(2) ("Respirators for IDLH atmospheres") is one requirement inside 1910.134 Respiratory protection, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart I). It includes 5 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(2) Respirators for IDLH atmospheres. 10 citations
(i) The employer shall provide the following respirators for employee use in IDLH atmospheres: Open (d)(2)(i) 9 citations
(A) A full facepiece pressure demand SCBA certified by NIOSH for a minimum service life of thirty minutes, or Open (d)(2)(i)(a) 1 citations
(B) A combination full facepiece pressure demand supplied-air respirator (SAR) with auxiliary self-contained air supply. Open (d)(2)(i)(b)
(ii) Respirators provided only for escape from IDLH atmospheres shall be NIOSH-certified for escape from the atmosphere in which they will be used. Open (d)(2)(ii) 1 citations
(iii) All oxygen-deficient atmospheres shall be considered IDLH. Exception: If the employer demonstrates that, under all foreseeable conditions, the oxygen concentration can be maintained within the ranges specified in Table II of this section (i.e., for the altitudes set out in the table), then any atmosphere-supplying respirator may be used. Open (d)(2)(iii)
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.134.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Top states: WI (2), TX (2), KS (1), IN (1), MI (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS USA, LLC | GREEN BAY, WI | $6,775 |
| MCCAIN FOODS USA, INC. | PLOVER, WI | $4,310 |
| NEWCOLD INDIANAPOLIS OPERATIONS, LLC | LEBANON, IN | $3,600 |
| ROSE EQUIPMENT COMPANY, LLP | SHALLOWATER, TX | $1,659 |
| RED BARN TRUCK WASH & SERVICE CENTER LLC | LIBERAL, KS | $1,116 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.134(d)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Applicability of OSHA's definition of oxygen-deficient atmosphere to Air Force facilities (2024-07-16)
- Use of smoke escape hoods meeting the ANSI-ISEA standard (2010-08-11)
- Clarification of OSHA denial of FirePASS's variance request and respiratory protection requirements in oxygen-deficient atmospheres. (2008-05-01)
- Clarification of OSHA's requirement for breathing air to have at least 19.5 percent oxygen content. (2007-04-02)
- Clarification on OSHA's policy regarding Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health since NIOSH has lowered several IDLH levels. (1995-10-11)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.134(d) Selection of respirators 573 citations
- 1910.134(d)(1) General requirements 477 citations
- 1910.134(d)(1)(iii) 312 citations
- 1910.134(d)(1)(i) 88 citations
- 1910.134(d)(3) Respirators for atmospheres that are not IDLH 86 citations
- 1910.134(d)(1)(ii) 74 citations
- 1910.134(d)(3)(iii) 53 citations
- 1910.134(d)(3)(iii)(B) 52 citations
- 1910.134(d)(3)(i) 28 citations
- 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(B) Maximum Use Concentration (MUC) 16 citations
- 1910.134(d)(2)(i) 9 citations
- 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(A) Assigned Protection Factors (APFs) 3 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What respirators are allowed in IDLH atmospheres?
A full facepiece pressure demand SCBA certified for at least thirty minutes, or a combination full facepiece pressure demand SAR with auxiliary self-contained air.
Is an oxygen-deficient atmosphere IDLH?
Yes, all oxygen-deficient atmospheres are IDLH unless the employer shows oxygen can be kept within Table II ranges.
What about escape respirators?
They must be NIOSH-certified for escape from the atmosphere where they will be used.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.134 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.