1910.134(g)(1)(i)(B): Conditions That Break the Respirator Seal
Under the respirator seal rule, any condition that interferes with the face-to-facepiece seal or the valve function is a reason a tight-fitting facepiece respirator must not be worn by that employee.
Key takeaways
- 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(B) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 23 times in the last 3 years, in 23 inspections, with $54,303 in current penalties.
- Most citations: GU (4), OH (3), OK (2).
- Related part: 1910.134(g) Use of respirators (678 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(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) Any condition that interferes with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function. 23 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 | 11 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: GU (4), OH (3), OK (2), OR (2), NC (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| STRATEGIC MATERIALS, INC | MIDLOTHIAN, TX | $42,000 |
| ORY'S GRANITE TOPS LLC | CINCINNATI, OH | $4,256 |
| GUAM ADVANCE ENTERPRISES, INC. | TAMUNING, GU | $4,113 |
| 155601 - KEWAUNEE SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION | STATESVILLE, NC | $1,755 |
| NCT TECHNOLOGIES GROUP INC. | MEDINA, OH | $1,419 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(B), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.134(g) Use of respirators 678 citations
- 1910.134(g)(1) Facepiece seal protection 639 citations
- 1910.134(g)(1)(i) 605 citations
- 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A) 523 citations
- 1910.134(g)(1)(iii) 28 citations
- 1910.134(g)(4) Procedures for interior structural firefighting 19 citations
- 1910.134(g)(3) Procedures for IDLH atmospheres 14 citations
- 1910.134(g)(1)(ii) 6 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
What conditions does this item cover?
Any condition that interferes with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function.
Which respirators does it apply to?
Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces.
What should a worker do if something affects the seal?
Tell the supervisor so the problem can be addressed before wearing the respirator.
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.