Who mandates training for individuals using respirators?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for mandating training for individuals using respirators. OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard requires employers to provide training to employees who are required to use respirators, ensuring they understand how to properly use and maintain the equipment, as well as how to respond in emergencies.

This training is essential for maintaining workplace safety, especially in environments where employees might be exposed to hazardous materials or airborne contaminants. It includes instruction on the types of respirators available, how to perform user seal checks, proper maintenance, and the limitations of the respirators being used.

While NIOSH plays a role in the certification and approval of respirators, and the EPA oversees environmental regulations that may relate to air quality and pollutant exposure, OSHA specifically places the requirement for training and implementation on the employer to protect the health and safety of workers using these devices. The Department of Labor, while overseeing broader labor issues, does not dictate specific environmental health and safety training requirements like those outlined by OSHA for respirator use.