1910.134(d)(3)(iii)(B): Air-Purifying Respirators for Gases and Vapors
An air-purifying respirator may be used for gases and vapors only if it has a NIOSH-certified end-of-service-life indicator for the contaminant, or the employer uses a canister and cartridge change schedule based on objective information or data. The program must describe the data and the basis for the change schedule.
Key takeaways
- 1910.134(d)(3)(iii)(B) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 52 times in the last 3 years, in 52 inspections, with $45,998 in current penalties.
- Most citations: OR (8), PA (4), CO (4).
- 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)(3)(iii)(B) is one requirement inside 1910.134 Respiratory protection, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart I). 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
(B) An air-purifying respirator, provided that: 52 citations
(1) The respirator is equipped with an end-of-service-life indicator (ESLI) certified by NIOSH for the contaminant; or
(2) If there is no ESLI appropriate for conditions in the employer's workplace, the employer implements a change schedule for canisters and cartridges that is based on objective information or data that will ensure that canisters and cartridges are changed before the end of their service life. The employer shall describe in the respirator program the information and data relied upon and the basis for the canister and cartridge change schedule and the basis for reliance on the data.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.134.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 15 |
| 2026 | 20 |
Top states: OR (8), PA (4), CO (4), NY (3), MD (3)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CAVCO INDUSTRIES INC. | AUSTIN, TX | $13,828 |
| CUSTOM CONTAINER SOLUTIONS, LLC | MILTON, PA | $7,000 |
| FINCH PAPER LLC | GLENS FALLS, NY | $5,533 |
| CONCEPTS IN MILLWORK | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $4,400 |
| THE FEDERAL METAL COMPANY | COLUMBIA, PA | $4,200 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.134(d)(3)(iii)(B), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
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)(i) 28 citations
- 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(B) Maximum Use Concentration (MUC) 16 citations
- 1910.134(d)(2) Respirators for IDLH atmospheres 10 citations
- 1910.134(d)(2)(i) 9 citations
- 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(A) Assigned Protection Factors (APFs) 3 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
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Frequently asked questions
When is an air-purifying respirator allowed for gases and vapors?
When it has a NIOSH-certified ESLI for the contaminant, or a data-based change schedule is used.
What does an ESLI do?
It is an end-of-service-life indicator that shows when the cartridge is used up.
Where is the change schedule basis recorded?
In the respirator program.
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.