Respiratory

Protection

OSHA 3079

2002 (Revised)
This informational booklet provides

a generic, non-exhaustive overview of a

particular topic related to OSHA standards.

It does not alter or determine compliance

responsibilities in OSHA standards or the

Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

Because interpretations and enforcement

policy may change over time, you should

consult current administrative interpretations

and decisions by the Occupational Safety and

Health Review Commission and the Courts

for additional guidance on OSHA compliance

requirements.

This publication is in the public domain and

may be reproduced, fully or partially, without

permission. Source credit is requested but

not required.

This information is available to sensory

impaired individuals upon request.

Voice phone: (202) 693–1999;

Teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889–5627.
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Respiratory

Protection

U.S. Department of Labor

Elaine L. Chao, Secretary

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

John L. Henshaw, Assistant Secretary

OSHA 3079

2002 (Revised)
ii
iii

Contents

Respiratory Protection

What is a respirator? ...................................................................... 1

Why do employees need respirators? .............................................. 2

When do employees need to wear respirators? ................................ 2

How can you ensure proper protection? ......................................... 3

Procedures to Ensure Proper Protection

How do you develop an effective

respiratory protection program? ..................................................... 4

How do you choose the correct respirator?..................................... 6

What are specific respirator uses?................................................... 8

Who needs to be trained? ............................................................. 10

How do you make sure the

respirators fit properly? ................................................................ 11

How do you inspect and

take care of respirators? ............................................................... 12

Do you need to do medical evaluations? ....................................... 13

How do you monitor work areas? ................................................ 14

What equipment and

air quality standards apply? ......................................................... 15

OSHA Assistance, Services, and Programs

How can OSHA help me? ............................................................ 17

How does safety and health management system

assistance help employers and employees? .................................... 17

What are state programs? ............................................................ 18

What is consultation assistance? ................................................... 18

What is the Safety and Health Achievement

Recognition Program (SHARP)? .................................................. 18
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What are the Voluntary Protection

Programs (VPPs)?......................................................................... 19

How can a partnership with OSHA

improve worker safety and health? ............................................... 20

What is OSHA’s Strategic

Partnership Program (OSPP)? ....................................................... 21

What occupational safety and

health training does OSHA offer?................................................. 21

What is the OSHA Training Grant Program? ............................... 22

What other assistance materials

does OSHA have available? ......................................................... 22

What do I do in case of an

emergency or to file a complaint? ................................................. 23

OSHA Regional and

Area Office Directory ............................................ 24

OSHA-Approved

Safety and Health Plans ...................................... 28

OSHA Consultation Projects............................... 32
1

What is a respirator?

A respirator is a protective device that covers the nose

and mouth or the entire face or head to guard the wearer

against hazardous atmospheres. Respirators may be:

■ Tight-fitting—that is, half masks, which cover the mouth

and nose and full facepieces that cover the face from the

hairline to below the chin; or

■ Loose-fitting, such as hoods or helmets that cover the

head completely.

In addition, there are two major classes of respirators:

■ Air-purifying, which remove contaminants from the air;

and

■ Atmosphere-supplying, which provide clean, breathable

air from an uncontaminated source. As a general rule,

atmosphere-supplying respirators are used for more

hazardous exposures.

Respiratory Protection
2

Why do employees need respirators?

When employees must work in environments with

insufficient oxygen or where harmful dusts, fogs, smokes,

mists, fumes, gases, vapors, or sprays are present, they

need respirators. These health hazards may cause cancer,

lung impairment, other diseases, or death.

Where toxic substances are present in the workplace

and engineering controls are inadequate to reduce or

eliminate them, respirators are necessary. Some atmospheresupplying respirators can also be used to protect against

oxygen-deficient atmospheres. Increased breathing rates,

accelerated heartbeat, and impaired thinking or coordination

occur more quickly in an oxygen-deficient or other hazardous

atmosphere. Even a momentary loss of coordination can be

devastating if it occurs while a worker is performing a

potentially dangerous activity such as climbing a ladder.

When do employees

need to wear respirators?

Employees need to wear respirators whenever

engineering and work practice control measures are

not adequate to prevent atmospheric contamination

at the worksite. Strategies for preventing atmospheric

contamination may include enclosing or confining the

contaminant-producing operation, exhausting the

contaminant, or substituting with less toxic materials.

Respirators have their limitations and are not a

substitute for effective engineering and work practice

controls. When it is not possible to use these controls to

reduce airborne contaminants below their occupational

exposure levels, such as during certain maintenance and

repair operations, emergencies, or when engineering controls

are being installed, respirator use may be the best or only
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way to reduce worker exposure. In other cases, where

work practices and engineering controls alone cannot

reduce exposure levels to below the occupational exposure

level, respirator use is essential.

Where respirators are required to protect worker health,

specific procedures are necessary to ensure the equipment’s

effectiveness.

How can you ensure proper protection?

OSHA’s respirator standard1 requires employers to

establish and maintain an effective respiratory protection

program when employees must wear respirators to protect

against workplace hazards. Different hazards require

different respirators, and employees are responsible for

wearing the appropriate respirator and complying with

the respiratory protection program.

The standard contains requirements for program

administration, worksite-specific procedures, respirator

selection, employee training, fit testing, medical evaluation,

and respirator use, cleaning, maintenance, and repair.

Employees must use respirators while effective

engineering controls, if they are feasible, are being installed.

If engineering controls are not feasible, employers must

provide respirators and employees must wear them when

necessary to protect their health. The employee’s equipment

must be properly selected, used, and maintained for a

particular work environment and contaminant. In addition,

employers must train employees in all aspects of the

respiratory protection program.

1 OSHA’s regulations cover general, construction, and maritime industries.

See Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 1910.134; and

the Compressed Gas Association’s Commodity Specification G-7-1989,

also referenced in 29 CFR Part 1910.134.
4

Procedures to Ensure

Proper Protection

How do you develop an effective

respiratory protection program?

The primary objective of the respiratory protection

program is to prevent exposure to air contaminated with

harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, vapors, or

sprays, and thus to prevent occupational illness.

A program administrator must be responsible for the

program. This person must know enough about respirators

to supervise the program properly.

Larger plants or companies with industrial hygiene,

in-house medical department, safety engineering, or fire

prevention departments should administer the program in

liaison with the program administrator. In smaller plants

without specialists, an upper-level superintendent, foreman,

or qualified person must serve as program administrator.

Any respirator program should stress thorough training

of all respirator users. Employees must be aware that a

respirator does not eliminate the hazard. If the respirator

fails, the user will be overexposed to dangerous substances.

To reduce the possibility of failure, the respirator must fit

properly and be maintained in a clean and serviceable

condition.

Employers and employees must understand the

respirator’s purpose and limitations. Users must not alter

or remove the respirator even for a short time, even if it

is uncomfortable.

An effective respirator program must cover the

following factors:

■ Written worksite specific procedures;

■ Program evaluation;
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■ Selection of an appropriate respirator approved by the

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

(NIOSH);

■ Training;

■ Fit testing;

■ Inspection, cleaning, maintenance, and storage;

■ Medical evaluations;

■ Work area surveillance; and

■ Air quality standards.

Whenever OSHA standards or employers require

respirator use, there must be a complete respiratory

protection program. Employers must have written

operating procedures to ensure that employees use the

respirators safely and properly. Users must be familiar

with these procedures and with the respirators available

and their limitations.

In workplaces with no hazardous exposures, but

where workers choose to use respirators voluntarily,

certain written program elements may be necessary to

prevent potential hazards associated with respirator use.

Employers must evaluate whether respirator use itself may

actually harm employees. If so, employers must medically

evaluate employees and, if necessary, restrict respirator use,

as well as comply with program elements. Employers must

inform employees voluntarily using respirators of basic

information in Appendix D of OSHA’s respiratory

protection standard.

Employers must evaluate the effectiveness of a

company’s respirator program regularly and modify the

written operating procedure as necessary to reflect the

evaluation results. A labor-management team may be

effective in conducting these periodic evaluations.
6

How do you choose the correct respirator?

Choosing the right equipment involves:

■ Determining what the hazard is and its extent,

■ Considering user factors that affect respirator

performance and reliability, and

■ Selecting an appropriate NIOSH-certified respirator.

Equipment must be used in line with specifications

accompanying the NIOSH certification.

When selecting respirators, employers must consider the

chemical and physical properties of the contaminant, as well

as the toxicity and concentration of the hazardous material

and the amount of oxygen present. Other selection factors

are nature and extent of the hazard, work rate, area to be

covered, mobility, work requirements and conditions, as

well as the limitations and characteristics of the available

respirators.

Air-purifying respirators use filters or sorbents to remove

harmful substances from the air. They range from simple

disposable masks to sophisticated devices. They do not supply

oxygen and must not be used in oxygen-deficient atmospheres

or in other atmospheres that are immediately dangerous to

life or health (IDLH).

Atmosphere-supplying respirators are designed to

provide breathable air from a clean air source other than

the surrounding contaminated work atmosphere. They

include supplied-air respirators (SARs) and self-contained

breathing apparatus (SCBA) units.

The time needed to perform a given task, including

the time necessary to enter and leave a contaminated area,

is an important factor in determining the type of respiratory
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protection needed. For example, SCBAs, gas masks, or

air-purifying chemical-cartridge respirators provide

respiratory protection for relatively short periods. On the

other hand, an atmosphere-supplying respirator that supplies

breathable air from an air compressor through an air line

can provide protection for extended periods.

If the total concentration of atmospheric particulates is

low, particulate filter air-purifying respirators can provide

protection for long periods without the need to replace the

filter. Where there are higher concentrations of contaminants,

however, an atmosphere-supplying respirator such as the

positive-pressure SAR offers better protection for a longer

period.

SARs eliminate the need for concern about filter

breakthrough times, change schedules, or using end-ofservice-life indicators (ESLI) for airborne toxic materials,

factors that must be considered when using air-purifying

respirators.

Respirators must not impair the worker’s ability to see,

hear, communicate, and move as necessary to perform the

job safely. For example, atmosphere-supplying respirators

may restrict movement and present other potential hazards.

SARs with their trailing hoses can limit the area the wearer

can cover and may present a hazard if the hose comes into

contact with machinery. Similarly, a SCBA that includes a

back-mounted, compressed-air cylinder is both large and

heavy. This may restrict climbing and movement in tight

places, and the added weight of the air cylinder presents an

additional burden to the wearer.

Another factor to consider when using respirators is

the air-supply rate. The wearer’s work rate determines the

volume of air breathed per minute. The volume of air supplied

to meet the breathing requirements is very significant when

using atmosphere-supplying respirators such as self-contained
8

and airline respirators that use cylinders because this volume

determines their operating life.

The peak airflow rate also is important in the use of a

constant-flow SAR. The air-supply rate should always be

greater than the maximum amount of air being inhaled in

order to maintain the respiratory enclosure under positive

pressure.

Higher breathing resistance of air-purifying respirators

under conditions of heavy work may causer the user

breathing difficulty, particularly in hot, humid conditions.

To avoid placing additional stress on the wearer, use the

lightest respirator possible that presents the least breathing

resistance.

SCBAs and some chemical canister respirators provide

a warning of remaining service time. This may be a pressure

gauge or timer with an audible alarm for SCBAs or a color

ESLI on the cartridge or canister. The user should understand

the operation and limitations of each type of warning device.

For the many gas masks and chemical-cartridge respirators

with no ESLI devices, the employer must establish and

enforce a cartridge or canister change schedule. In addition,

employees should begin each work shift with new canisters

and cartridges.

What are specific respirator uses?

The following list presents a simplified version of

characteristics and factors used for respirator selection.

It does not specify the contaminant concentrations or particle

size. Some OSHA substance-specific standards include more

detailed information on respirator selection.
9

Hazard Respirator

Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH)2

Oxygen deficiency

Gas, vapor contaminants

and other highly toxic

air contaminants

Contaminated atmospheres

—for escape

Not immediately dangerous to life or health

Gas and vapor contaminants Positive-pressure SAR. Gas

mask. Chemical-cartridge or

canister respirator.

Particulate contaminants Positive-pressure SAR including

abrasive blasting respirator.

Powered air-purifying

respirator equipped with

high-efficiency filters. Any

air-purifying respirator with

a specific particulate filter.

Gaseous and particulate Positive-pressure suppliedcontaminants respirator. Gas mask.

Chemical-cartridge respirator

with mechanical filters.

Smoke and other fire-related Positive-pressure SCBA.

contaminants

2 “Immediately dangerous to life or health” (IDLH) means an atmosphere

that poses an immediate threat to life, would cause irreversible adverse

health effects, or would impair an individual’s ability to escape from a

dangerous atmosphere.

Full-facepiece, pressuredemand SCBA certified for

a minimum service life of

30 minutes. A combination

full-facepiece, pressure-demand

SAR with an auxiliary

self-contained air supply.

Positive-pressure SCBA.

Gas mask. Combination

positive-pressure SAR with

escape SCBA.
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Who needs to be trained?

Training is essential for correct respirator use. Employers

must teach supervisors and workers how to properly select,

use, and maintain respirators. All employees required to use

respiratory protective equipment must receive instruction in

the proper use of the equipment and its limitations. Employers

should develop training programs based on the employee’s

education level and language background.

Training must be comprehensive enough for the

employee to demonstrate a knowledge of the limitations

and capabilities of the respirator, why the respirator is

necessary, and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance

can compromise the respirator.

Training must include an explanation of the following:

■ Why respirator use is necessary;

■ Nature of the respiratory hazard and consequences of

not fitting, using, and maintaining the respirator properly;

■ Reason(s) for selecting a particular type of respirator;

■ Capabilities and limitations of the selected respirator;

■ How to inspect, put on and remove, and check the seals

of the respirator;

■ Respirator maintenance and storage requirements;

■ How to use the respirator effectively in emergency

situations, including when the respirator malfunctions; and

■ How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may

limit or prevent the effective use of the respirator.

Users should know that improper respirator use or

maintenance may cause overexposure. They also should

understand that continued use of poorly fitted and maintained

respirators can cause chronic disease or death from

overexposure to air contaminants.
11

How do you make sure the

respirators fit properly?

Different types of respirators and even different brands of

the same type of respirator have different fit characteristics.

No one respirator will fit everyone. Some employees may be

unable to get an adequate fit with certain respirator models

of a particular type of respirator. This is why employers must

provide a sufficient number of respirator models and sizes

to ensure that every employee can select an acceptable

respirator that fits properly.

Corrective eyeglasses worn by employees also present

a problem when fitting respirators. Special mountings are

available to hold corrective lenses inside full facepieces.

A qualified individual must fit the facepiece and lenses to

provide good vision, comfort, and proper sealing.

Tight-fitting respirators cannot provide proper protection

without a tight seal between the facepiece and the wearer’s

face. Consequently, beards and other facial hair, the absence

of normally worn dentures, facial deformities, or jewelry

or head gear that projects under the facepiece seal can

also seriously affect the fit of a facepiece. To ensure proper

respiratory protection, check the facepiece each time you

wear the respirator. You can do this by performing either

a positive-pressure or negative-pressure user seal check.

Detailed instructions for performing these user seal checks

are in Appendix B-1 of the OSHA respiratory protection

standard.

Fit testing is required for tight-fitting facepiece respirators.

You can test the effectiveness of the fit of the facepiece two

ways: qualitatively and quantitatively.

Qualitative fit testing involves the introduction of a

harmless odoriferous or irritating substance into the breathing

zone around the respirator being worn. If no odor or irritation

is detected by the wearer, this indicates a proper fit.
12

Quantitative fit testing offers more accurate, detailed

information on respirator fit. While the wearer performs

exercises that could induce facepiece leakage, a fit testing

instrument numerically measures the amount of leakage into

the respirator. This testing can be done either by generating a

test aerosol as a test atmosphere, using ambient aerosol as a

test agent, or using controlled negative pressure to measure

any leakage. Detailed instructions for performing qualitative

and quantitative fit testing is contained in Appendix A of the

OSHA respiratory protection standard.

How do you inspect and

take care of respirators?

It is important to inspect all respirators for wear and

tear before and after each use, giving special attention to

rubber or plastic parts that can deteriorate or lose pliability.

The facepiece, headband, valves, connecting tube, fittings,

and cartridges, canisters or filters must be in good condition.

A respirator inspection must include checking the tightness

of the connections.

Users must inspect SCBAs at least monthly and ensure

that air and oxygen cylinders are fully charged according to

the manufacturer’s instructions. The inspection should include

a check of regulator and warning devices to ensure their

proper function. Employers must keep records of inspection

dates and findings.

Users should replace chemical cartridges and gas mask

canisters as necessary to provide complete protection,

following the manufacturer’s recommendations. In addition,

they should replace mechanical filters as necessary to avoid

high resistance to breathing.
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Only an experienced person is permitted to make

repairs, using parts specifically designed for the respirator.

This person must consult the manufacturer’s instructions

for any repair and no attempt should be made to repair or

replace components or make adjustments or repairs beyond

the manufacturer’s recommendations.

The employer must ensure that respirators are cleaned

and disinfected as often as necessary to keep them sanitary.

In addition, the employer must ensure that emergency-use

respirators are cleaned and disinfected immediately after

each use.

Respirators should be washed in a detergent solution and

then disinfected by immersing them in a sanitizing solution.

Cleaner-sanitizers that effectively clean the respirator and

contain a bactericidal agent are available commercially. The

bactericidal agent frequently used is a quaternary ammonium

compound. Strong cleaning and sanitizing agents and many

solvents can damage rubber or plastic respirator parts. Use

these materials with caution or after consultation with the

respirator manufacturer.

Users must store respirators in a way that protects

them against dust, sunlight, heat, extreme cold, excessive

moisture, and damaging chemicals. When packed or stored,

each respirator should be positioned to retain its natural

configuration. Facepieces and exhalation valves should rest

in a normal position to prevent the rubber or plastic from

deforming.

Do you need to do medical evaluations?

Workers assigned to tasks that require respirator use

must be physically able to perform the work while using

the respirator. The local physician or licensed health care

professional (LHCP) will determine what health and

physical conditions are pertinent.
14

The medical evaluation can be performed by a physician

or other LHCP by using a medical questionnaire or by a

medical examination that provides the same information

as the questionnaire provided in Appendix C of the OSHA

standard. This evaluation must be done before the employee

is fit tested and uses the respirator in the workplace.

The employer must obtain a written recommendation from

the LHCP for each employee’s ability to wear a respirator.

Additional medical evaluations must be provided whenever

health-care professionals deem them appropriate.

How do you monitor work areas?

Employers must maintain surveillance of the work area

conditions and the degree of worker exposure or stress—a

combination of work rate, environmental conditions, and

physiological burdens of wearing a respirator. Changes in

operating procedures, temperature, air movement, humidity,

and work practices may influence the concentration of

a substance in the work area atmosphere. Employers

must periodically monitor these factors as they affect air

contaminant concentrations. In instances where work is of

such short duration that it takes longer to do the test than

the job, reasonable estimates of exposure are allowable.

In situations where the environment is or may be

immediately dangerous to life or health, employers must

ensure that one or more employees are located outside the

dangerous environment. These employees must maintain

visual, voice, or signal line communication with employees

in the IDLH atmosphere.

In interior structural firefighting situations, employers must

ensure that at least two employees enter the structure and remain

in visual or voice contact with one another at all times. Also,

at least two employees must be located outside the fire area

to provide effective emergency rescue. All workers engaged

in interior structural firefighting must use SCBA.
15

What equipment and

air quality standards apply?

Respiratory protective devices must be approved by

NIOSH for the contaminant or situation to which the

employee is exposed.

Compressed air, compressed oxygen, liquid air, and

liquid oxygen used for respiration must be of high purity.

Oxygen must meet the requirements of the United States

Pharmacopoeia for medical or breathable oxygen. Breathing

air must meet at least the requirement for Grade D breathing

air described in Compressed Gas Association (CGA) Commodity

Specification G-7.1-1989. Compressed oxygen must not be

used in open circuit SCBAs or SARs that have previously

used compressed air. Oxygen concentrations greater than

23.5 percent must not be used with airline respirators unless

the equipment is designed for oxygen service.

Employers must supply breathing air to respirators

from cylinders or air compressors. For testing cylinders,

see “Shipping Container Specifications of the Department

of Transportation,” 49 CFR Part 178.

Employers must mark containers of breathing gas

clearly and in accordance with NIOSH requirements, as

described in 42 CFR Part 84. Further details on the sources

of compressed air and its safe use can be found in the CGA

pamphlet G-7.1-1989.

The compressor for supplying air must have the necessary

safety devices and alarms. Compressors must be constructed

and situated to prevent contaminated air from entering the

air supply system and be equipped with suitable in-line,

air-purifying sorbent beds and filters installed to ensure

breathing air quality. If using an oil-lubricated compressor,

ensure that it has a high-temperature or carbon monoxide

alarm or both. If using only the high-temperature alarm, the

employer must test the air from the compressor frequently

for carbon monoxide.
16

Air-line couplings must be incompatible with outlets for

other gas systems to prevent accidental servicing of air-line

respirators with non-breathable gases or oxygen.
17

OSHA Assistance,

Services, and Programs

How can OSHA help me?

OSHA can provide extensive help through a variety

of programs, including assistance about safety and health

programs, state plans, workplace consultations, voluntary

protection programs, strategic partnerships, alliances, and

training and education. An overall commitment to workplace

safety and health can add value to your business, to your

workplace, and to your life.

How does safety and health

management system assistance

help employers and employees?

Working in a safe and healthful environment can

stimulate innovation and creativity and result in increased

performance and higher productivity. The key to a safe and

healthful work environment is a comprehensive safety and

health management system.

OSHA has an electronic compliance assistance tool, or

eTools, on its website that “walks” users through the steps

required to develop a comprehensive safety and health

program. The eTools are posted at www.osha.gov, and

are based on guidelines that identify four general elements

critical to a successful safety and health management system:

■ Management leadership and employee involvement,

■ Worksite analysis,

■ Hazard prevention and control, and

■ Safety and health training.
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What are state programs?

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH

Act) encourages states to develop and operate their own job

safety and health plans. OSHA approves and monitors these

plans and funds up to 50 percent of each program’s operating

costs. State plans must provide standards and enforcement

programs, as well as voluntary compliance activities, that

are at least as effective as Federal OSHA’s.

Currently, 26 states and territories have their own plans.

Twenty-three cover both private and public (state and

local government) employees and three states, Connecticut,

New Jersey, and New York, cover only the public sector.

For more information on state plans, see the list at the end of

this publication, or visit OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.

What is consultation assistance?

Consultation assistance is available on request to

employers who want help establishing and maintaining a

safe and healthful workplace. Funded largely by OSHA,

the service is provided at no cost to small employers and is

delivered by state authorities through professional safety

and health consultants.

What is the Safety and Health Achievement

Recognition Program (SHARP)?

Under the consultation program, certain exemplary

employers may request participation in OSHA’s Safety

and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).

Eligibility for participation includes, but is not limited to,

receiving a full-service, comprehensive consultation visit,

correcting all identified hazards, and developing an effective

safety and health program management program.
19

Employers accepted into SHARP may receive an

exemption from programmed inspections (not complaint

or accident investigation inspections) for 1 year initially,

or 2 years upon renewal. For more information about

consultation assistance, see the list of consultation projects

at the end of this publication.

What are the Voluntary Protection

Programs (VPPs)?

Voluntary Protection Programs are designed to recognize

outstanding achievements by companies that have developed

and implemented effective safety and health management

programs. There are three levels of VPPs: Star, Merit, and

Demonstration. All are designed to achieve the following goals:

■ Recognize employers that have successfully developed

and implemented effective and comprehensive safety and

health management programs;

■ Encourage these employers to continuously improve

their safety and health management programs;

■ Motivate other employers to achieve excellent safety

and health results in the same outstanding way; and

■ Establish a cooperative relationship between employers,

employees, and OSHA.

VPP participation can bring many benefits to employers

and employees, including fewer worker fatalities, injuries,

and illnesses; lost-workday case rates generally 50 percent

below industry averages; and lower workers’ compensation

and other injury- and illness-related costs. In addition, many

VPP sites report improved employee motivation to work

safely, leading to a better quality of life at work; positive

community recognition and interaction; further improvement
20

and revitalization of already-good safety and health

programs; and a positive relationship with OSHA.

After a site applies for the program, OSHA reviews

an employer’s VPP application and conducts a VPP

onsite evaluation to verify that the site’s safety and health

management programs are operating effectively. OSHA

conducts onsite evaluations on a regular basis, annually

for participants at the demonstration level, every 18 months

for Merit, and every 3 to 5 years for Star. Once a year, all

participants must send a copy of their most recent annual

internal evaluation to their OSHA regional office. This

evaluation must include the worksite’s record of injuries

and illnesses for the past year.

Sites participating in VPP are not scheduled for regular,

programmed inspections. OSHA does, however, handle

any employee complaints, serious accidents, or significant

chemical releases that may occur at VPP sites according to

routine enforcement procedures.

Additional information on VPP is available from OSHA

national, regional, and area offices listed at the end of this

booklet. Also, see “Cooperative Programs” on OSHA’s

website.

How can a partnership with OSHA

improve worker safety and health?

OSHA has learned firsthand that voluntary, cooperative

partnerships with employers, employees, and unions can be a

useful alternative to traditional enforcement and an effective

way to reduce worker deaths, injuries, and illnesses. This is

especially true when a partnership leads to the development

and implementation of a comprehensive workplace safety

and health management program.
21

What is OSHA’s Strategic

Partnership Program (OSPP)?

OSHA Strategic Partnerships are agreements among

labor, management, and government to improve workplace

safety and health. These partnerships encourage, assist,

and recognize the efforts of the partners to eliminate serious

workplace hazards and achieve a high level of worker safety

and health. Whereas OSHA’s Consultation Program and

VPP entail one-on-one relationships between OSHA and

individual worksites, most strategic partnerships build

cooperative relationships with groups of employers and

employees.

There are two major types of OSPPs. Comprehensive

partnerships focus on establishing comprehensive safety

and health management systems at partnering worksites.

Limited partnerships help identify and eliminate hazards

associated with worker deaths, injuries, and illnesses, or

have goals other than establishing comprehensive worksite

safety and health programs.

For more information about this program, contact

your nearest OSHA office or visit the agency’s website.

What occupational safety and

health training does OSHA offer?

The OSHA Training Institute in Arlington Heights, IL,

provides basic and advanced training and education in

safety and health for federal and state compliance officers,

state consultants, other federal agency personnel, and

private-sector employers, employees, and their

representatives.
22

What is the OSHA Training Grant Program?

OSHA awards grants to nonprofit organizations to

provide safety and health training and education to

employers and workers in the workplace. Grants often focus

on high risk activities or hazards or may help nonprofit

organizations in training, education, and outreach.

OSHA expects each grantee to develop a program that

addresses a safety and health topic named by OSHA, recruit

workers and employers for the training, and conduct the

training. Grantees are also expected to follow up with

students to find out how they applied the training in their

workplaces.

For more information contact OSHA Office of Training

and Education, 2020 Arlington Heights Road, Arlington

Heights, IL 60005; or call (847) 297–4810.

What other assistance materials

does OSHA have available?

OSHA has a variety of materials and tools on its website

at www.osha.gov. These include eTools such as Expert

Advisors and Electronic Compliance Assistance Tools,

information on specific health and safety topics, regulations,

directives, publications, videos, and other information for

employers and employees.

OSHA also has an extensive publications program.

For a list of free or sales items, visit OSHA’s website at

www.osha.gov or contact the OSHA Publications Office,

U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW,

N-3101, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone (202) 693–1888

or fax to (202) 693–2498.
23

In addition, OSHA’s CD-ROM includes standards,

interpretations, directives, and more. It is available for sale

from the U.S. Government Printing Office. To order, write to

the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing

Office, Washington, DC 20402, or phone (202) 512–1800.

What do I do in case of an

emergency or to file a complaint?

To report an emergency, file a complaint, or seek OSHA

advice, assistance, or products, call (800) 321–OSHA or

contact your nearest OSHA regional, area, state plan,

or consultation office listed at the end of this publication.

The teletypewriter (TTY) number is (877) 889–5627.

Employees can also file a complaint online and get more

information on OSHA federal and state programs by visiting

OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.
24

OSHA Regional and

Area Office Directory

OSHA Regional Offices

Region I

(CT,* MA, ME, NH, RI, VT*)

JFK Federal Building, Room E340

Boston, MA 02203

(617) 565–9860

Region II

(NJ,* NY,* PR,* VI*)

201 Varick Street, Room 670

New York, NY 10014

(212) 337–2378

Region III

(DE, DC, MD,* PA,* VA,* WV)

The Curtis Center

170 S. Independence Mall West

Suite 740 West

Philadelphia, PA 19106-3309

(215) 861–4900

Region IV

(AL, FL, GA, KY,* MS, NC,*

SC,* TN*)

SNAF

61 Forsyth Street SW, Room 6T50

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 562–2300

Region V

(IL, IN,* MI,* MN,* OH, WI)

230 South Dearborn Street,

Room 3244

Chicago, IL 60604

(312) 353–2220

Region VI

(AR, LA, NM,* OK, TX)

525 Griffin Street, Room 602

Dallas, TX 75202

214) 767–4731 or 4736 x224

Region VII

(IA,* KS, MO, NE)

City Center Square

1100 Main Street, Suite 800

Kansas City, MO 64105

(816) 426–5861

Region VIII

(CO, MT, ND, SD, UT,* WY*)

1999 Broadway, Suite 1690

PO Box 46550

Denver, CO 80202-5716

(303) 844–1600

Region IX

(American Samoa, AZ,*

CA,* HI, NV,* Northern

Mariana Islands)

71 Stevenson Street, Room 420

San Francisco, CA 94105

(415) 975–4310

Region X

(AK,* ID, OR,* WA*)

1111 Third Avenue, Suite 715

Seattle, WA 98101-3212

(206) 553–5930

*These states and territories operate their own OSHA-approved job safety

and health programs. The Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York plans

cover public employees only. States with approved programs must have a

standard that is identical to, or at least as effective as, the federal standard.
25

OSHA Area Offices

Anchorage, AK

(907) 271–5152

Birmingham, AL

(205) 731–1534

Mobile, AL

(251) 441–6131

Little Rock, AR

(501) 324–6291/5818

Phoenix, AZ

(602) 640–2348

Sacramento, CA

(916) 566–7471

San Diego, CA

(415) 975–4310

Denver, CO

(303) 844–5285

Greenwood Village, CO

(303) 843–4500

Bridgeport, CT

(203) 579–5581

Hartford, CT

(860) 240–3152

Wilmington, DE

(302) 573–6518

Fort Lauderdale, FL

(954) 424–0242

Jacksonville, FL

(904) 232–2895

Tampa, FL

(813) 626–1177

Savannah, GA

(912) 652–4393

Smyrna, GA

(770) 984–8700

Tucker, GA

(770) 493–6644/6742/8419

Des Moines, IA

(515) 284–4794

Boise, ID

(208) 321–2960

Calumet City, IL

(708) 891–3800

Des Plaines, IL

(847) 803–4800

Fairview Heights, IL

(618) 632–8612

North Aurora, IL

(630) 896–8700

Peoria, IL

(309) 671–7033

Indianapolis, IN

(317) 226–7290

Wichita, KS

(316) 269–6644

Frankfort, KY

(502) 227–7024

Baton Rouge, LA

(225) 389–0474/0431)

Braintree, MA

(617) 565–6924
26

Methuen, MA

(617) 565–8110

Springfield, MA

(413) 785–0123

Linthicum, MD

(410) 865–2055/2056

Bangor, ME

(207) 941–8177

Portland, ME

(207) 780–3178

Lansing, MI

(517) 327–0904

Minneapolis, MN

(612) 664–5460

Kansas City, MO

(816) 483–9531

St. Louis, MO

(314) 425–4249

Jackson, MS

(601) 965–4606

Billings, MT

(406) 247–7494

Raleigh, NC

(919) 856–4770

Bismark, ND

(701) 250–4521

Omaha, NE

(402) 221–3182

Concord, NH

(603) 225–1629

Avenel, NJ

(732) 750–3270

Hasbrouck Heights, NJ

(201) 288–1700

Marlton, NJ

(856) 757–5181

Parsippany, NJ

(973) 263–1003

Carson City, NV

(775) 885–6963

Albany, NY

(518) 464–4338

Bayside, NY

(718) 279–9060

Bowmansville, NY

(716) 684–3891

New York, NY

(212) 337–2636

North Syracuse, NY

(315) 451–0808

Tarrytown, NY

(914) 524–7510

Westbury, NY

(516) 334–3344

Cincinnati, OH

(513) 841–4132

Cleveland, OH

(216) 522–3818

Columbus, OH

(614) 469–5582

Toledo, OH

(419) 259–7542

Oklahoma City, OK

(405) 278–9560
27

Portland, OR

(503) 326–2251

Allentown, PA

(610) 776–0592

Erie, PA

(814) 833–5758

Harrisburg, PA

(717) 782–3902

Philadelphia, PA

(215) 597–4955

Pittsburgh, PA

(412) 395–4903

Wilkes–Barre, PA

(570) 826–6538

Guaynabo, PR

(787) 277–1560

Providence, RI

(401) 528–4669

Columbia, SC

(803) 765–5904

Nashville, TN

(615) 781–5423

Austin, TX

(512) 916–5783 (5788)

Corpus Christi, TX

(361) 888–3420

Dallas, TX

(214) 320–2400 (2558)

El Paso, TX

(915) 534–6251

Fort Worth, TX

(817) 428–2470

(817) 485–7647

Houston, TX

(281) 591–2438 (2787)

Houston, TX

(281) 286–0583/0584 (5922)

Lubbock, TX

(806) 472–7681 (7685)

Salt Lake City, UT

(801) 530–6901

Norfolk, VA

(757) 441–3820

Bellevue, WA

(206) 553–7520

Appleton, WI

(920) 734–4521

Eau Claire, WI

(715) 832–9019

Madison, WI

(608) 264–5388

Milwaukee, WI

(414) 297–3315

Charleston, WV

(304) 347–5937
28

OSHA-Approved

Safety and Health Plans

Alaska Department of Labor

and Workforce Development

Commissioner

(907) 465–2700

FAX: (907) 465–2784

Program Director

(907) 269–4904

FAX: (907) 269–4915

Industrial Commission

of Arizona

Director, ICA

(602) 542–4411

FAX: (602) 542–1614

Program Director

(602) 542–5795

FAX: (602) 542–1614

California Department

of Industrial Relations

Director

(415) 703–5050

FAX: (415) 703–5114

Chief

(415) 703–5100

FAX: (415) 703–5114

Manager, Cal/OSHA

Program Office

(415) 703–5177

FAX: (415) 703–5114

Connecticut Department

of Labor

Commissioner

(860) 566–5123

FAX: (860) 566–1520

Conn–OSHA Director

(860) 566–4550

FAX: (860) 566–6916

Hawaii Department of Labor

and Industrial Relations

Director

(808) 586–8844

FAX: (808) 586–9099

Administrator

(808) 586–9116

FAX: (808) 586–9104

Indiana Department of Labor

Commissioner

(317) 232–2378

FAX: (317) 233–3790

Deputy Commissioner

(317) 232–3325

FAX: (317) 233–3790

Iowa Division of Labor

Commissioner

(515) 281–6432

FAX: (515) 281–4698

Administrator

(515) 281–3469

FAX: (515) 281–7995

Kentucky Labor Cabinet

Secretary

(502) 564–3070

FAX: (502) 564–5387

Federal/State Coordinator

(502) 564–3070, x240

FAX: (502) 564–1682
29

Maryland Division

of Labor and Industry

Commissioner

(410) 767–2999

FAX: (410) 767–2300

Deputy Commissioner

(410) 767–2992

FAX: 767–2003

Assistant Commissioner, MOSH

(410) 767–2215

FAX: 767–2003

Michigan Department of

Consumer and Industry Services

Director

(517) 322–1814

FAX: (517) 322–1775

Minnesota Department

of Labor and Industry

Commissioner

(651) 296–2342

FAX: (651) 282–5405

Assistant Commissioner

(651) 296–6529

FAX: (651) 282–5293

Administrative Director,

OSHA Management Team

(651) 282–5772

FAX: (651) 297–2527

Nevada Division

of Industrial Relations

Administrator

(775) 687–3032

FAX: (775) 687–6305

Chief Administrative Officer

(702) 486–9044

FAX: (702) 990–0358

[Las Vegas (702) 687–5240]

New Jersey Department

of Labor

Commissioner

(609) 292–2975

FAX: (609) 633–9271

Assistant Commissioner

(609) 292–2313

FAX: (609) 292–1314

Program Director, PEOSH

(609) 292–3923

FAX: (609) 292–4409

New Mexico Environment

Department

Secretary

(505) 827–2850

FAX: (505) 827–2836

Chief

(505) 827–4230

FAX: (505) 827–4422

New York Department of Labor

Acting Commissioner

(518) 457–2741

FAX: (518) 457–6908

Division Director

(518) 457–3518

FAX: (518) 457–6908

North Carolina Department

of Labor

Commissioner (919) 807–2900

FAX: (919) 807–2855

Deputy Commissioner,

OSH Director

(919) 807–2861

FAX: (919) 807–2855

OSH Assistant Director

(919) 807–2863

FAX: (919) 807–2856
30

Oregon Occupational Safety

and Health Division

Administrator

(503) 378–3272

FAX: (503) 947–7461

Deputy Administrator for Policy

(503) 378–3272

FAX: (503) 947–7461

Deputy Administrator for

Operations

(503) 378–3272

FAX: (503) 947–7461

Puerto Rico Department of

Labor and Human Resources

Secretary

(787) 754–2119

FAX: (787) 753–9550

Assistant Secretary for

Occupational Safety and Health

(787) 756–1100/1106, 754–2171

FAX: (787) 767–6051

Deputy Director for

Occupational Safety and Health

(787) 756–1100, 1106/754–2188

FAX: (787) 767–6051

South Carolina Department of

Labor, Licensing, and Regulation

Director

(803) 896–4300

FAX: (803) 896–4393

Program Director

(803) 734–9644

FAX: (803) 734–9772

Tennessee Department of Labor

Commissioner

(615) 741–2582

FAX: (615) 741–5078

Acting Program Director

(615) 741–2793

FAX: (615) 741–3325

Utah Labor Commission

Commissioner

(801) 530–6901

FAX: (801) 530–7906

Administrator

(801) 530–6898

FAX: (801) 530–6390

Vermont Department

of Labor and Industry

Commissioner

(802) 828–2288

FAX: (802) 828–2748

Project Manager

(802) 828–2765

FAX: (802) 828–2195

Virgin Islands Department

 of Labor

Acting Commissioner

(340) 773–1990

FAX: (340) 773–1858

Program Director

(340) 772–1315

FAX: (340) 772–4323
31

Virginia Department

of Labor and Industry

Commissioner

(804) 786–2377

FAX: (804) 371–6524

Director, Office of Legal Support

(804) 786–9873

FAX: (804) 786–8418

Washington Department

of Labor and Industries

Director

(360) 902–4200

FAX: (360) 902–4202

Assistant Director

[PO Box 44600]

(360) 902–5495

FAX: (360) 902–5529

Program Manager,

Federal–State Operations

(360) 902–5430

FAX: (360) 902–5529

Wyoming Department

of Employment

Safety Administrator

(307) 777–7786

FAX: (307) 777–3646
32

OSHA Consultation Projects

Indianapolis, IN

(317) 232–2688

Topeka, KS

(785) 296–2251

Frankfort, KY

(502) 564–6895

Baton Rouge, LA

(225) 342–9601

West Newton, MA

(617) 727–3982

Laurel, MD

(410) 880–4970

Augusta, ME

(207) 624–6400

Lansing, MI

(517) 322–1809

Saint Paul, MN

(651) 284–5060

Jefferson City, MO

(573) 751–3403

Pearl, MS

(601) 939–2047

Helena, MT

(406) 444–6418

Raleigh, NC

(919) 807–2905

Bismarck, ND

(701) 328–5188

Lincoln, NE

(402) 471–4717

Concord, NH

(603) 271–2024

Anchorage, AK

(907) 269–4957

Tuscaloosa, AL

(205) 348–3033

Little Rock, AR

(501) 682–4522

Phoenix, AZ

(602) 542–1695

Sacramento, CA

(916) 263–2856

Fort Collins, CO

(970) 491–6151

Wethersfield, CT

(860) 566–4550

Washington, DC

(202) 541–3727

Wilmington, DE

(302) 761–8219

Tampa, FL

(813) 974–9962

Atlanta, GA

(404) 894–2643

Tiyam, GU

9–1–(671) 475–1101

Honolulu, HI

(808) 586–9100

Des Moines, IA

(515) 281–7629

Boise, ID

(208) 426–3283

Chicago, IL

(312) 814–2337
33

Trenton, NJ

(609) 292–3923

Santa Fe, NM

(505) 827–4230

Albany, NY

(518) 457–2238

Henderson, NV

(702) 486–9140

Columbus, OH

(614) 644–2631

Oklahoma City, OK

(405) 528–1500

Salem, OR

(503) 378–3272

Indiana, PA

(724) 357–2396

Hato Rey, PR

(787) 754–2171

Providence, RI

(401) 222–2438

Columbia, SC

(803) 734–9614

Brookings, SD

(605) 688–4101

Nashville, TN

(615) 741–7036

Austin, TX

(512) 804–4640

Salt Lake City, UT

(801) 530–6901

Montpelier, VT

(802) 828–2765

Richmond, VA

(804) 786–6359

Christiansted St. Croix, VI

(809) 772–1315

Olympia, WA

(360) 902–5638

Madison, WI

(608) 266–9383

Waukesha, WI

(262) 523–3044

Charleston, WV

(304) 558–7890

Cheyenne, WY

(307) 777–7786
36