Respiratory Protection Program
Respirator selection, medical evaluation, fit testing, maintenance, and training.
The regulation that requires it in New York
Federal OSHA requires employers to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program when respirators are necessary. New York follows federal OSHA standards with no approved state plan for private employers; public sector enforcement is handled by PESH. The key citation is 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1).
Enforcing agency
Federal OSHA — Region II (public sector covered by PESH) enforces the standard. They inspect workplaces, issue citations, and propose penalties for violations of 29 CFR 1910.134. Region II coordinates with federal OSHA on policy and appeals while PESH covers state and local government employers.
State-specific requirements beyond the federal baseline
No state-specific overrides beyond the federal baseline were found in our research for New York.
Penalties for non-compliance in New York
Penalties follow the standard Federal OSHA — Region II (public sector covered by PESH) schedule and refer the reader to the agency for current amounts.
How to comply
- Write a site-specific program covering hazard assessment, respirator selection, medical evaluations, fit testing, maintenance, and training.
- Perform medical evaluations and fit testing before employees use respirators.
- Train workers on respirator use, limitations, and care, then document the training.
- Inspect, clean, and store respirators properly and replace filters on schedule.
- Review and update the program at least annually or when workplace conditions change.