1910.134(h)(1)(i): Cleaning Personal Respirators
Respirators issued for one employee's exclusive use must be cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to keep them sanitary.
Key takeaways
- 1910.134(h)(1)(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 56 times in the last 3 years, in 56 inspections, with $98,284 in current penalties.
- Most citations: WI (7), OR (7), TN (5).
- Related part: 1910.134(h) Maintenance and care of respirators (804 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1)(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) Respirators issued for the exclusive use of an employee shall be cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition; 56 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 | 5 |
| 2024 | 23 |
| 2025 | 20 |
| 2026 | 8 |
Top states: WI (7), OR (7), TN (5), NY (5), MO (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| COMMODORE MAINTENANCE CORPORATION | BROOKLYN, NY | $23,170 |
| STONEBRIDGE INC. | NEW YORK, NY | $10,641 |
| JIM MELHART PIANO AND ORGAN COMPANY | EDINBURG, TX | $9,680 |
| COMMODORE MAINTENANCE CORPORATION | BROOKLYN, NY | $8,067 |
| MCA CONSTRUCTION RENTALS | CARTHAGE, MO | $5,808 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.134(h)(1)(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.134(h)(1)(i).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.134(h) Maintenance and care of respirators 804 citations
- 1910.134(h)(2) Storage 493 citations
- 1910.134(h)(2)(i) 447 citations
- 1910.134(h)(1) Cleaning and disinfecting 148 citations
- 1910.134(h)(3) Inspection 131 citations
- 1910.134(h)(3)(i) 60 citations
- 1910.134(h)(3)(iii) 37 citations
- 1910.134(h)(4) Repairs 32 citations
- 1910.134(h)(3)(ii) 27 citations
- 1910.134(h)(3)(ii)(A) 21 citations
- 1910.134(h)(1)(ii) 12 citations
- 1910.134(h)(3)(i)(A) 10 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
How often must a personal respirator be cleaned?
As often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition.
Does this apply to respirators used by one person?
Yes, it covers respirators issued for the exclusive use of an employee.
Is cleaning enough, or must it be disinfected too?
It must be cleaned and disinfected.
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.