Interim Guidance on N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirator Shortage
Due to the shortage of disposable N95 filtering facepiece respirators caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, guidelines for annual fit testing and shelf life of disposable N95 facepieces standards have been temporarily suspended to include interim guidance language allowing for discretion to permit extended use beyond normal manufacturers standards for Healthcare personnel (HCP) and all workers exposed to respirator hazards in the workplace.
Respiratory Protection standard 29 CFR § 1910.134
The OSHA Respiratory Protection standard 29 CFR § 1910.134 was reviewed and resulted in the issuance of an Enforcement Guidance Memo by OSHA on April 3, 2020. The April 3 Enforcement Memo supercedes the Enforcement Memo issued on March 14, which only addressed Healthcare personnel (HCP).
The April 3, 2020 enforcement guidance includes all HCP as well as the protection of workers exposed to other respiratory hazards impacted by the N95 shortage. See Enforcement Guidance for Respiratory Protection and the N95 Shortage Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic for the full text of the OSHA memo.
Workplace Safety & Compliance Training
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