A respiratory protection program is important to establish in certain work environments in order to control occupational diseases caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful dusts, fumes, gases, smoke and many other potentially harmful vapors.  OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and NIOSH (the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) regulations define all specific requirements, which must be followed.  Employers must follow the requirements of these governmental regulations, both the general regulations and the regulations when it comes to certain industries such as lead, silica dust, asbestos and ammonia.  According to OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134) there are 7 key elements that every respiratory protection program should have:

1. A written plan detailing how the program will be administered
2. A complete assessment and knowledge of respiratory hazards that ill be encountered in the workplace
3. Procedures and equipment to control respiratory hazards, including the use of engineering controls and work practices designed to limit or reduce employee exposures to such hazards
4. Guidelines for the proper selection of appropriate respiratory protective equipment
5. An employee training program covering hazard recognition, the dangers associated with respiratory hazards, and proper care and use of respiratory equipment
6. Inspection, maintenance, and repair of respiratory protective equipment
7. Medical surveillance of employees

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More information about Respiratory Protection Programs can be found at OSHA.com.