Respirator use information

You must follow the respirator manufacturer’s instructions and the Appendix D guidance to make sure the respirator itself does not become a hazard.

• Read and follow all manufacturer instructions on use, maintenance, cleaning, care, and warnings as required by 1910.134 Appendix D.
• Use only respirators that are certified for the contaminant you expect to encounter and check for a NIOSH certification label on the respirator or packaging (1910.134 Appendix D).
• Do not use a respirator to enter atmospheres it was not designed to protect against (for example, a dust filter will not protect against gases or vapors).
• Keep your respirator identified so you don’t accidentally use someone else’s device.

(See the Respiratory Protection standard at 1910.134 for the full program requirements that apply when respirator use is required.)

No, Appendix D information must be provided, but medical evaluations and fit testing are not generally required for purely voluntary use unless the employer requires, provides, or controls the respirator use.

• Employers must make the Appendix D information available to employees who voluntarily wear respirators (1910.134 Appendix D).
• If the employer requires respirator use, provides respirators (including employer-supplied tight-fitting respirators), or implements workplace rules that make use effectively mandatory, then the employer must follow the full 1910.134 program requirements, including medical evaluation and fit testing.

(Reference: 1910.134 and the mandatory Appendix D guidance.)

"NIOSH-certified" means the respirator has been tested and approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health for particular hazards, and you should confirm certification by checking labels or packaging for the NIOSH approval.

• Look for a NIOSH label or statement of certification on the respirator or its packaging; Appendix D tells users that the label will state what the respirator is designed to protect against and its level of protection (1910.134 Appendix D).
• If you are unsure, consult the respirator manufacturer or NIOSH approval listings and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for intended use.

(See 1910.134 Appendix D for the required employee information.)

No — a respirator designed to filter dust particles will not protect you from gases, vapors, or very small particles such as fumes or smoke.

• Appendix D explicitly warns that particle-filtering respirators meant for dust will not provide protection against gases or vapors and may not stop very small particles like fumes or smoke (1910.134 Appendix D).
• Always choose a respirator certified for the specific contaminant you will face; check the NIOSH label and manufacturer instructions.

(For situations involving gases, vapors, or oxygen-deficient atmospheres see the full 1910.134 requirements.)

You should clean, maintain, and store the respirator exactly as the manufacturer instructs so it remains safe and functional.

• Read and heed all manufacturer instructions on cleaning, maintenance, and care, as required by 1910.134 Appendix D.
• After use, inspect the respirator for damage, replace filters or parts per the manufacturer, and store it in a clean, dry location protected from contamination.
• If your employer supplies the respirator, follow any workplace procedures your employer sets for cleaning and storage.

(Improper cleaning or storage can make the respirator itself a hazard; see 1910.134 Appendix D.)

Yes, you can use a personal respirator voluntarily, but you must follow the manufacturer instructions and the Appendix D guidance so the respirator does not create a new hazard.

• Appendix D tells employees who provide their own respirators to follow manufacturer instructions for use, cleaning, care, and limitations (1910.134 Appendix D).
• If the employer provides the respirator or makes its use mandatory, the employer may have to implement parts of the full 1910.134 respiratory protection program (medical evaluation, fit test, training).
• Keep your respirator identifiable so you do not accidentally use someone else’s device.

(See 1910.134 Appendix D and the main 1910.134 standard for employer responsibilities.)

No — you should not share tight-fitting respirators; Appendix D advises you to keep track of your respirator so you don’t mistakenly use someone else’s.

• Appendix D specifically instructs users to keep track of their respirator to avoid using another person’s device (1910.134 Appendix D).
• Shared respirators increase the risk of cross-contamination and hygiene problems unless cleaned and disinfected between users according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

(If respirators are shared or provided by the employer, follow employer policies and the full 1910.134 program when respirator use is required.)

You must check the NIOSH certification label and the manufacturer’s instructions, which tell what contaminant the respirator is designed to protect against.

• Appendix D explains that a label or statement of NIOSH certification should appear on the respirator or its packaging and will explain the intended protection (1910.134 Appendix D).
• If the label does not clearly cover the contaminant of concern, do not use that respirator for that hazard; consult the manufacturer or a qualified safety professional.

(See the 1910.134 Appendix D guidance on selecting certified respirators.)

No — you should not rely on a voluntary respirator for oxygen-deficient atmospheres; oxygen-deficient conditions must be treated as immediately dangerous and require specific program protections under [1910.134].

• Appendix D warns that respirators can become hazards if used improperly, and the full 1910.134 standard treats oxygen-deficient atmospheres (below 19.5% oxygen) as immediately dangerous to life and health.
• OSHA has clarified that civilian employees covered by the standard are subject to the respiratory protection requirements for oxygen-deficient atmospheres; see OSHA’s interpretation on oxygen-deficient atmospheres (July 16, 2024) at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-07-16.

(If work may expose you to oxygen-deficient or IDLH conditions, follow the full 1910.134 program and use only respirators approved for those conditions.)

Stop using the respirator immediately and clean, repair, or replace it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Appendix D stresses that respirators must be kept clean and properly maintained and that improper care can make the respirator itself a hazard (1910.134 Appendix D).
• If filters or cartridges are clogged or damaged, replace them as the manufacturer directs; do not attempt to use a compromised respirator.

(If the employer requires respirator use, follow the employer’s respiratory protection program under 1910.134.)

Employees must be given the Appendix D information, but formal training is not generally required for purely voluntary use unless the employer requires or provides the respirator.

• Appendix D is mandatory information that employers must make available to employees who voluntarily wear respirators (1910.134 Appendix D).
• The full 1910.134 training and fit-testing requirements apply when the employer requires respirator use or when the employer provides a tight-fitting respirator for employee use.

(If in doubt about whether use is voluntary or employer-mandated, consult your employer’s respiratory protection program and 1910.134.)

Not reliably — Appendix D warns that respirators designed for dust may not protect against very small particles such as fumes or smoke.

• Appendix D explicitly states a dust-filtering respirator will not protect against gases, vapors, or very small solid particles like fumes or smoke (1910.134 Appendix D).
• Choose a respirator certified for the specific size and type of contaminant you face; consult the manufacturer or a safety professional.

(For workplace exposures requiring protection from fumes or smoke, follow the full 1910.134 program.)

Store the respirator clean, dry, and protected from contamination according to the manufacturer’s instructions so it remains safe to use.

• Appendix D calls for following manufacturer cleaning and care instructions; proper storage prevents damage and contamination (1910.134 Appendix D).
• Keep respirators in a clean container or bag, away from sunlight, extreme temperatures, and chemicals; label it if necessary so you don’t mix devices.

(Employer-provided respirators may be subject to employer procedures under 1910.134.)

Yes — if the employer provides respirators for voluntary use, they must ensure those respirators are safe, which includes making Appendix D information available and maintaining respirators per manufacturer instructions; if use becomes required the full [1910.134] program applies.

• Appendix D requires users to follow manufacturer instructions and warns employers and employees that improperly maintained respirators can be hazardous (1910.134 Appendix D).
• When an employer supplies respirators, the employer should provide procedures for cleaning, maintenance, and storage; if employer policies make use mandatory, the employer must implement the full 1910.134 respiratory protection program.

(Refer to 1910.134 for specific employer obligations when respirator use is required.)

Look for a clear NIOSH approval label or stamp on the respirator or its packaging that names NIOSH and indicates the model and protection class.

• Appendix D explains a NIOSH certification label or statement should appear on the respirator or its packaging and will state what the respirator is designed to protect against (1910.134 Appendix D).
• If the respirator lacks a NIOSH approval label or you cannot verify the label, do not rely on it for protection against workplace contaminants.

(If in doubt, consult the manufacturer or the NIOSH respirator approval listings and the 1910.134 standard.)

Yes — Appendix D says respirator use is encouraged even when exposures are below OSHA limits to provide extra comfort and protection, but users must follow all precautions to avoid creating new hazards.

• Appendix D notes respirator use is encouraged as an additional level of comfort and protection when exposures are below exposure limits, but warns improper use or lack of cleaning can create hazards (1910.134 Appendix D).
• Even for voluntary use, check certification, read manufacturer instructions, and keep the respirator clean and personally identified.

(If your employer requires respirator use or supplies the respirator, follow the full 1910.134 program.)

Yes — you must read and heed all manufacturer instructions and warnings about limitations, cleaning, and care before using a respirator.

• Appendix D’s first instruction is to read and follow all manufacturer instructions on use, maintenance, cleaning and care, and warnings regarding the respirator’s limitations (1910.134 Appendix D).
• Failure to follow manufacturer warnings can reduce protection or create additional hazards.

(Manufacturer instructions, NIOSH certification, and the 1910.134 standard together guide safe respirator use.)

Appendix D requires employers to provide the mandatory informational guidance (the Appendix D text) to employees who voluntarily use respirators so workers know how to use and care for them safely.

• The Appendix D text itself is mandatory information that must be made available whenever respirators are used voluntarily; it covers reading manufacturer instructions, choosing NIOSH-certified respirators, not using respirators for contaminants they're not designed for, and keeping your respirator identified (1910.134 Appendix D).
• If the employer goes beyond voluntary use — for example, by providing respirators or making use mandatory — the employer must comply with the full 1910.134 respiratory protection program requirements.

(See 1910.134 Appendix D and the main 1910.134.)