1910.134(e)(2)(i): Who Does Respirator Medical Evaluations
Employers must identify a physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP) to perform respirator medical evaluations, using a medical questionnaire or an initial medical examination that obtains the same information.
Key takeaways
- 1910.134(e)(2)(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 17 times in the last 3 years, in 17 inspections, with $17,812 in current penalties.
- Most citations: CT (4), MO (3), NJ (3).
- Related part: 1910.134(e) Medical evaluation (2,653 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.134(e)(2)(i) 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
(i) The employer shall identify a physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP) to perform medical evaluations using a medical questionnaire or an initial medical examination that obtains the same information as the medical questionnaire. 17 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.134.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: CT (4), MO (3), NJ (3), PA (2), IL (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| MIDDLEBUSH VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT | SOMERSET, NJ | $6,300 |
| WEST TUCKERTON VOLUNTEER FIRE CO. | LITTLE EGG HARBOR TWP, NJ | $3,500 |
| SEA ISLE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT | SEA ISLE CITY, NJ | $3,500 |
| APPLE HEALTH CARE, INC. | MERIDEN, CT | $3,457 |
| WILLIAM HEAVER | EAST PEORIA, IL | $880 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.134(e)(2)(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Clarification on whether a Registered Nurse can act as a licensed health care professional for purposes of conducting a respiratory protection medical evaluation (2014-09-02)
- Conduct of respiratory protection medical evaluations by medical technicians. (1998-10-16)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.134(e) Medical evaluation 2,653 citations
- 1910.134(e)(1) General 2,526 citations
- 1910.134(e)(6) Medical determination 52 citations
- 1910.134(e)(6)(i) 52 citations
- 1910.134(e)(2) Medical evaluation procedures 22 citations
- 1910.134(e)(4) Administration of the medical questionnaire and examinations 19 citations
- 1910.134(e)(7) Additional medical evaluations 17 citations
- 1910.134(e)(4)(i) 16 citations
- 1910.134(e)(7)(ii) 11 citations
- 1910.134(e)(5) Supplemental information for the PLHCP 10 citations
- 1910.134(e)(5)(i) 6 citations
- 1910.134(e)(3) Follow-up medical examination 5 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
Who performs respirator medical evaluations?
A physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP) identified by the employer.
Is a questionnaire acceptable?
Yes. The evaluation may use a medical questionnaire or an initial medical exam that gets the same information.
Who chooses the PLHCP?
The employer must identify the PLHCP.
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.