3M Center for Respiratory Protection
A written respiratory protection program* is a core component of ensuring safety in your workplace. Not only is it required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), it’s valuable to employers because:
So as an employer, how do you put together a written respiratory protection program and keep it current?
First, describe the general policies the workplace follows to comply with OSHA regulations, including everyone’s responsibilities, from management to employees. Then provide the specific procedures for the various parts of the safety program, including:
Every time an aspect of the program is implemented or updated, keep a record of each test and assessment performed, and copies of the procedures and information used to determine what was required.
Review the entire written program at least once a year to make sure everything is up to date, and add a record of the review.
*Although it’s called a “written” program, electronic files are acceptable to OSHA. So you can scan documents and save the program electronically, as long as those who may need to see it can access it on request.
See the next step in your journey to optimizing your respiratory protection program.