1910.134(h)(1): Cleaning and Disinfecting Respirators
Employers must give each respirator user a clean, sanitary respirator in good working order, cleaned with the appendix B-2 procedures or equally effective manufacturer procedures. Personal respirators must be cleaned as often as needed to stay sanitary, shared respirators before being worn by someone else, and emergency, fit testing and training respirators after each use.
Key takeaways
- 1910.134(h)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 148 times in the last 3 years, in 147 inspections, with $261,854 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TN (21), VA (11), TX (11).
- 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) ("Cleaning and disinfecting") is one requirement inside 1910.134 Respiratory protection, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart I). It includes 4 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) Cleaning and disinfecting. The employer shall provide each respirator user with a respirator that is clean, sanitary, and in good working order. The employer shall ensure that respirators are cleaned and disinfected using the procedures in appendix B-2 of this section, or procedures recommended by the respirator manufacturer, provided that such procedures are of equivalent effectiveness. The respirators shall be cleaned and disinfected at the following intervals: 148 citations
(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; Open (h)(1)(i) 56 citations
(ii) Respirators issued to more than one employee shall be cleaned and disinfected before being worn by different individuals; Open (h)(1)(ii) 12 citations
(iii) Respirators maintained for emergency use shall be cleaned and disinfected after each use; and Open (h)(1)(iii)
(iv) Respirators used in fit testing and training shall be cleaned and disinfected after each use.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.134.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.134(h)(1).
At 1:08 p.m. on March 20, 2024, an employee died of silicosis from occupational exposure.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 57 |
| 2025 | 50 |
| 2026 | 31 |
Top states: TN (21), VA (11), TX (11), PA (8), OR (8)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| DELEK REFINING, LTD. | TYLER, TX | $30,000 |
| COMMODORE MAINTENANCE CORPORATION | BROOKLYN, NY | $23,170 |
| VTCU, CORP. | POCATELLO, ID | $16,550 |
| COASTAL ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, INC | HOUSTON, TX | $16,550 |
| VALERO REFINING COMPANY- OKLAHOMA | ARDMORE, OK | $16,550 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.134(h)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Respirators for voluntary use and cleaning respirators during fit testing. (1999-10-01)
- Decontamination of SCBA second stage regulators. (1998-11-02)
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)(3) Inspection 131 citations
- 1910.134(h)(3)(i) 60 citations
- 1910.134(h)(1)(i) 56 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
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Frequently asked questions
When must shared respirators be cleaned?
Before being worn by different individuals.
How often must a personal respirator be cleaned?
As often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition.
What procedures can be used?
Those in appendix B-2 of 1910.134, or the manufacturer's procedures if they are of equivalent effectiveness.
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.