Respiratory Protection Program
Respirator selection, medical evaluation, fit testing, maintenance, and training.
What this document is
This document is a written Respiratory Protection Program tailored for contractors. It establishes procedures for selecting respirators, conducting medical evaluations, performing fit tests, maintaining equipment, and delivering required training.
The regulation that requires it
The federal standard 29 CFR 1910.134 and the California standard T8 CCR §5144 both require employers to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program. 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1) states that the employer shall include procedures for selecting respirators, medical evaluations, fit testing, use of respirators, maintenance, training, and program evaluation. T8 CCR §5144 contains identical requirements under Cal/OSHA and applies to every California employer whose employees use respirators. The rule ensures that respirators are properly chosen and used when engineering controls are not feasible.
Who needs it
Any employer whose workers must wear respirators during construction, demolition, painting, sanding, welding, or hazardous dust tasks needs this program. California contractors face Cal/OSHA enforcement of T8 CCR §5144 in addition to the federal 29 CFR 1910.134 standard. General contractors, specialty trades, and multi-employer worksites in California must maintain a compliant written program. Employers in states that follow federal OSHA rules also require the program when respirators are used.
What happens without it
OSHA and Cal/OSHA cite employers for lack of a written respiratory protection program as a serious violation. Current penalty ranges for serious violations run from several thousand dollars up to the statutory maximum, while willful or repeat violations can reach significantly higher amounts per the published OSHA penalty schedule. Inspections frequently review respirator use on construction sites, and multi-employer citations can extend responsibility to general contractors. Without the program, employers also risk stop-work orders and repeated findings during subsequent inspections.
What's included in the generated document
- Program administration and responsible persons
- Respirator selection criteria
- Medical evaluation procedures
- Fit testing protocols and schedules
- Maintenance, cleaning, and storage requirements
How to implement it at your company
- Talk to Guy first. Describe your operation, trade, and location — Guy draws from 300,000+ verified OSHA and state regulatory citations to build a compliance plan specific to your company. Your answers shape every section of the document you receive. Takes about 10 minutes.
- Download the PDF and review all sections against your current jobsite respirator use.
- Assign a program administrator and update the document with your company name and contact information.
- Schedule and document medical evaluations and fit tests for each affected employee.
- Deliver the required training to employees and maintain records of training, fit tests, and evaluations.
- Conduct an annual program evaluation and revise the written plan as needed.
View state-specific requirements
How this document changes by state — citations, enforcing agency, and any overrides beyond the federal baseline.