1910.134(k)(5): Annual Respirator Retraining
Employers must give respirator retraining annually and also when workplace or respirator changes make previous training obsolete, when an employee's knowledge or use shows they have not kept the needed understanding or skill, or when any other situation makes retraining appear necessary for safe respirator use.
Key takeaways
- 1910.134(k)(5) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I).
- OSHA cited it 71 times in the last 3 years, in 71 inspections, with $42,970 in current penalties.
- Most citations: NY (22), OR (10), TN (6).
- Related part: 1910.134(k) Training and information (1,842 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.134(k)(5) is one requirement inside 1910.134 Respiratory protection, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart I). It includes 3 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
(5) Retraining shall be administered annually, and when the following situations occur: 71 citations
(i) Changes in the workplace or the type of respirator render previous training obsolete;
(ii) Inadequacies in the employee's knowledge or use of the respirator indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill; or Open (k)(5)(ii) 3 citations
(iii) Any other situation arises in which retraining appears necessary to ensure safe respirator use. 5 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 | 7 |
| 2024 | 25 |
| 2025 | 26 |
| 2026 | 13 |
Top states: NY (22), OR (10), TN (6), NJ (5), TX (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| GOLD COAST INGREDIENTS, INC. | GILBERT, PA | $10,250 |
| PHILLIPS 66 PIPELINE LLC | GOLDSMITH, TX | $9,930 |
| UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES | NEWARK, NJ | $7,000 |
| PRINCETON FIRE DEPARTMENT | PRINCETON, NJ | $7,000 |
| MAPLE SHADE FIRST AID SQUAD | MAPLE SHADE, NJ | $5,390 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.134(k)(5), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- OSHA training Standards Policy Statement. (2007-04-17)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.134(k) Training and information 1,842 citations
- 1910.134(k)(6) 533 citations
- 1910.134(k)(1) 489 citations
- 1910.134(k)(3) 197 citations
- 1910.134(k)(1)(i) 22 citations
- 1910.134(k)(1)(v) 13 citations
- 1910.134(k)(5)(ii) 3 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 is respirator retraining required?
Annually, and when certain situations occur.
What situations trigger extra retraining?
Changes in the workplace or type of respirator that make training obsolete, inadequacies in knowledge or use, or any other situation where retraining appears necessary.
Can retraining happen sooner than a year?
Yes. Any of the listed situations requires retraining when it occurs.
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.