Respiratory Protection: Is it necessary to quantify worker exposures to respiratory hazards before selecting a respirator that will be used for a medical evaluation?
Since the selection of respirators should be based on the specific respiratory hazards that your employees will be exposed to, or are likely to be exposed to, in your workplace, respirator selection decisions for a respiratory protection program must be based on objective, quantifiable evidence. OSHA requires employers identify the state and physical form of respiratory hazards and make a reasonable estimate of the degree of exposure to those hazards – before they select a respirator for their respiratory protection program.