1910.502(f)(2): Respirators and other PPE for exposure to people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19
Key takeaways
- 1910.502(f)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart U).
- Related part: 1910.502(f) Personal protective equipment (PPE) (1 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.502(f)(2) ("Respirators and other PPE for exposure to people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19") is one requirement inside 1910.502 Healthcare, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart U). It includes 2 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
(2) Respirators and other PPE for exposure to people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. When employees have exposure to a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, the employer must provide:
(i) A respirator to each employee and ensure that it is provided and used in accordance with § 1910.134 and Open (f)(2)(i)
(ii) Gloves, an isolation gown or protective clothing, and eye protection to each employee and ensure that the PPE is used in accordance with subpart I of this part.
When there is a limited supply of filtering facepiece respirators, employers may follow the CDC's “Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators” (available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirators-strategy/index.html). Where possible, employers are encouraged to select elastomeric respirators or PAPRs instead of filtering facepiece respirators to prevent shortages and supply chain disruption.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.502.
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.502(f)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Respiratory protection against COVID-19 for employees with religiously mandated facial hair (2021-12-16)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.502(f) Personal protective equipment (PPE) 1 citations
- 1910.502(f)(2)(i)
- 1910.502(f)(3) Respirators and other PPE during aerosol-generating procedures
- 1910.502(f)(3)(i)
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About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.502 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly
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.