Uploaded February 2013 | Updated September 2026, 11 hours ago
This 1978 DOD training film for civilians explains the requirements for the proper use of respirators to protect workers from environmental air pollution, under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. In April 1998, OSHA's new respiratory protection rule went into effect. OSHA had begun to revise the rule in 1982. This new rule clarified, updated, and strengthened OSHA's previous respiratory protection standard, which was adopted by the Agency in 1971 and has remained essentially unchanged since that time. This rulemaking is thus the first major revision to OSHA's respiratory protection standard in more than 25 years. The final respiratory protection standard applies to respirator use in general industry, construction, shipyards, marine terminals, and longshoring operations. When used properly, respirators can help to protect employees from the acute and chronic effects of exposure to hazardous airborne contaminants, whether in the form of particulates, vapors, or gases. Generally, OSHA requires respirators to be used to protect employee health in situations where engineering controls and work practices are not feasible, where such controls have not yet been instituted, in emergencies, or where such controls are not sufficient, by themselves, to protect the health of employees. Effective respirator use can protect employees from exposure to a wide variety of toxic chemicals. In 1994, approximately 215 deaths, or five percent of all workplace fatalities, occurred as a result of exposure to harmful substances and environments. There are a number of workplace situations that involve toxic substances and for which engineering controls may be inadequate to control exposures, and respirators are used in these situations as a back-up method of protection. Substances that have been associated with death or serious incidents include carbon monoxide, trichloroethylene, carbon dioxide, chromic acid, coal tar, several toxic metal fumes and dusts, sulphur dioxide, wood dust, and welding fumes; these substances cause adverse health effects ranging from transient, reversible effects such as irritation or narcosis, through disabling diseases such as silicosis and asbestosis, to death caused either by acute exposure or by a cancer resulting from chronic exposures. For much more information on current respiratory protection information and OSHA requirements, go to the webpage osha.gov/SLTC/respiratoryprotection/index.html .
This 1978 DOD training film for civilians explains the requirements for the proper use of respirators to protect workers from environmental air pollution, under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. In April 1998, OSHA's new respiratory protection rule went into effect. OSHA had begun to revise the rule in 1982. This new rule clarified, updated, and strengthened OSHA's previous respiratory protection standard, which was adopted by the Agency in 1971 and has remained essentially unchanged since that time. This rulemaking is thus the first major revision to OSHA's respiratory protection standard in more than 25 years. The final respiratory protection standard applies to respirator use in general industry, construction, shipyards, marine terminals, and longshoring operations. When used properly, respirators can help to protect employees from the acute and chronic effects of exposure to hazardous airborne contaminants, whether in the form of particulates, vapors, or gases. Generally, OSHA requires respirators to be used to protect employee health in situations where engineering controls and work practices are not feasible, where such controls have not yet been instituted, in emergencies, or where such controls are not sufficient, by themselves, to protect the health of employees. Effective respirator use can protect employees from exposure to a wide variety of toxic chemicals. In 1994, approximately 215 deaths, or five percent of all workplace fatalities, occurred as a result of exposure to harmful substances and environments. There are a number of workplace situations that involve toxic substances and for which engineering controls may be inadequate to control exposures, and respirators are used in these situations as a back-up method of protection. Substances that have been associated with death or serious incidents include carbon monoxide, trichloroethylene, carbon dioxide, chromic acid, coal tar, several toxic metal fumes and dusts, sulphur dioxide, wood dust, and welding fumes; these substances cause adverse health effects ranging from transient, reversible effects such as irritation or narcosis, through disabling diseases such as silicosis and asbestosis, to death caused either by acute exposure or by a cancer resulting from chronic exposures. For much more information on current respiratory protection information and OSHA requirements, go to the webpage osha.gov/SLTC/respiratoryprotection/index.html .
