1926.1101(h)(3): Respirator Selection for Asbestos Work
Employers must select and provide the right respirators for asbestos work, with HEPA filters on air-purifying respirators, and must never use filtering facepiece respirators against asbestos. The rule sets higher levels of protection, such as half masks, PAPRs or supplied-air respirators, for certain classes of work when no negative exposure assessment is available.
Key takeaways
- 1926.1101(h)(3) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart Z).
- OSHA cited it 48 times in the last 3 years, in 48 inspections, with $73,763 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MI (27), VA (5), NV (4).
- Related part: 1926.1101(h) Respiratory protection (204 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.1101(h)(3) ("Respirator selection") is one requirement inside 1926.1101 Asbestos, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart Z). It includes 10 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
(3) Respirator selection. 48 citations
(i) Employers must: Open (h)(3)(i) 8 citations
(A) Select, and provide to employees, the appropriate respirators specified in paragraph (d)(3)(i)(A) of 29 CFR 1910.134; however, employers must not select or use filtering facepiece respirators for use against asbestos fibers. Open (h)(3)(i)(a) 8 citations
(B) Provide HEPA filters for powered and non-powered air-purifying respirators. Open (h)(3)(i)(b)
(ii) Employers must provide an employee with tight-fitting, powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) instead of a negative pressure respirator selected according to paragraph (h)(3)(i)(A) of this standard when the employee chooses to use a PAPR and it provides adequate protection to the employee.
(iii) Employers must provide employees with an air-purifying half mask respirator, other than a filtering facepiece respirator, whenever the employees perform: Open (h)(3)(iii) 13 citations
(A) Class II or Class III asbestos work for which no negative exposure assessment is available. Open (h)(3)(iii)(a) 12 citations
(B) Class III asbestos work involving disturbance of TSI or surfacing ACM or PACM.
(iv) Employers must provide employees with: Open (h)(3)(iv) 27 citations
(A) A tight-fitting powered air-purifying respirator or a full facepiece, supplied-air respirator operated in the pressure-demand mode and equipped with either HEPA egress cartridges or an auxiliary positive-pressure, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) whenever the employees are in a regulated area performing Class I asbestos work for which a negative exposure assessment is not available and the exposure assessment indicates that the exposure level will be at or below 1 f/cc as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). Open (h)(3)(iv)(a) 16 citations
(B) A full facepiece supplied-air respirator operated in the pressure-demand mode and equipped with an auxiliary positive-pressure SCBA whenever the employees are in a regulated area performing Class I asbestos work for which a negative exposure assessment is not available and the exposure assessment indicates that the exposure level will be above 1 f/cc as an 8-hour TWA. Open (h)(3)(iv)(b)
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.1101.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 19 |
| 2026 | 12 |
Top states: MI (27), VA (5), NV (4), OR (3), IL (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| SEPTON DEVELOPMENT GROUP, LLC | RENO, NV | $42,560 |
| TOWNSHIP OF TOMS RIVER DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS | TOMS RIVER, NJ | $5,000 |
| PATERSON DEPT OF PUBLIC WORKS | PATERSON, NJ | $4,950 |
| CHICAGO SURFACE CUT, INC. | SHOREWOOD, IL | $4,090 |
| RIGHTWAY REMEDIATION LLC | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $4,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.1101(h)(3), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Respirators for asbestos Class I work (2024-01-04)
- Hooded versus tight-fitting respirators when complying with the Asbestos Standard (2017-07-18)
- Requirements for tapping or tying-in to asbestos containing cement water pipes for construction. (2007-05-29)
- The relationship between OSHA standards and the usage of particulate respirators. (1996-03-18)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.1101(h) Respiratory protection 204 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(2) Respirator program 80 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(2)(i) 80 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(1) General 76 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(iv) 27 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(iv)(A) 16 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(iii) 13 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(iii)(A) 12 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(i) 8 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(i)(A) 8 citations
- 1926.1101(h)(2)(ii)
- 1926.1101(h)(3)(i)(B)
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
Can a filtering facepiece (dust mask) be used for asbestos?
No. Employers must not select or use filtering facepiece respirators against asbestos fibers.
Can a worker ask for a PAPR?
Yes. Employers must provide a tight-fitting PAPR instead of a negative pressure respirator when the employee chooses one and it gives adequate protection.
When is at least a half mask required?
For Class II or Class III asbestos work with no negative exposure assessment, and Class III work disturbing TSI or surfacing ACM or PACM.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.1101 (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 2026-10-23
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.