1910.134(c)(1): What the written respirator program must contain
Where respirators are needed to protect health, or the employer requires them, the employer must set up a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures and update it when workplace conditions affecting respirator use change. As applicable, it must cover respirator selection, medical evaluations, fit testing for tight-fitting respirators, use in routine and foreseeable emergencies, cleaning, storage, inspection, repair and maintenance, breathing air quality for supplied-air respirators, training on hazards and proper use, and regular evaluation of how well the program works.
Key takeaways
- 1910.134(c)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 2,038 times in the last 3 years, in 1,951 inspections, with $4,357,840 in current penalties.
- 5 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MI (180), IL (137), NY (122).
- Related part: 1910.134(c) Respiratory protection program (4,071 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1) is one requirement inside 1910.134 Respiratory protection, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart I). It includes 9 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
(1) In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer shall establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. The program shall be updated as necessary to reflect those changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use. The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable: 2,038 citations
(i) Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace; Open (c)(1)(i) 17 citations
(ii) Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators; Open (c)(1)(ii) 56 citations
(iii) Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators; Open (c)(1)(iii) 31 citations
(iv) Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations; Open (c)(1)(iv) 12 citations
(v) Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators; Open (c)(1)(v) 17 citations
(vi) Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators; 8 citations
(vii) Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations; 9 citations
(viii) Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and Open (c)(1)(viii) 20 citations
(ix) Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program. Open (c)(1)(ix) 18 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.134.
Injuries linked to this rule
5 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.134(c)(1).
At 12:57 p.m. on July 3, 2024, Employee #1 was spraying paint while wearing a respirator. The employee grabbed a trash bin and removed the mask, appearing to have difficulty breathing before collapsing to the floor. The employee struck his head on the concrete when…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 107 |
| 2024 | 831 |
| 2025 | 651 |
| 2026 | 449 |
Top states: MI (180), IL (137), NY (122), TX (103), OR (99)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| TRIMAC TRANSPORTATION INC. | BEAUMONT, TX | $119,246 |
| ALASKA DOT&PF | FAIRBANKS, AK | $56,459 |
| FLORENZA MARBLE & GRANITE CORPORATION | CHICAGO, IL | $47,490 |
| TFA 3 INC. | LANGHORNE, PA | $29,790 |
| NUCO FOODS, LLC | ELIZABETHTOWN, PA | $18,207 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.134(c)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Escape-only respirators (2019-09-04)
- Pulmonary function testing training requirements and spirometer transmission of disease. (1993-06-17)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.134(c) Respiratory protection program 4,071 citations
- 1910.134(c)(2) 1,789 citations
- 1910.134(c)(2)(i) 838 citations
- 1910.134(c)(2)(ii) 781 citations
- 1910.134(c)(3) 83 citations
- 1910.134(c)(1)(ii) 56 citations
- 1910.134(c)(1)(iii) 31 citations
- 1910.134(c)(1)(viii) 20 citations
- 1910.134(c)(1)(ix) 18 citations
- 1910.134(c)(1)(i) 17 citations
- 1910.134(c)(1)(v) 17 citations
- 1910.134(c)(1)(iv) 12 citations
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Frequently asked questions
How many elements does the written respirator program have?
Nine, as applicable: selection, medical evaluation, fit testing, proper use, maintenance, breathing air quality, hazard training, use training, and program evaluation.
When must the program be updated?
As necessary to reflect changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use.
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.