Labor & Industries (L&I), Washington State

Respirators Chapter 296-842, WAC

Effective Date: 12/01/09

Scope and application

For printing

(1) Respirators are required whenever respiratory hazards (including oxygen-deficient conditions) are present. For example, use respirators at any of the following times:

(a) While exposure controls are being evaluated or put in place;

(b) When it is not feasible to use exposure controls to remove or reduce the airborne hazard to below the PEL.

This chapter applies whenever respirators are used at work.

Important:

Before using respirators, employers are required to evaluate respiratory hazards and implement control methods as outlined in
chapter 296-841 WAC, Airborne contaminants.

The term “respiratory hazards” will be used throughout this chapter to refer to oxygen-deficient conditions and harmful airborne hazards.

You can use Table 1 for general guidance on which chapter sections apply to you.

Table 1 Chapter Sections that apply to your workplace
If employees	Then the sections marked with an "X" apply
	10505	11005	12005	13005	14005	15005-21005	22005	22010
Request and are permitted to voluntarily use filtering-facepiece respirators, and aren't exposed to a respiratory hazard.		X
Request and are permitted to voluntarily use respirators that are not filtering-facepiece respirators, and aren't exposed to a respiratory hazard.	X	X			X		X
And required to use any respirator by WISHA or the employer	X		X	X	X	X	X	X
Would use an escape respirator in an emergency	X		X	X	X	X	X	X

Reference:

See WAC 296-800-160, Personal protective equipment (PPE) to find requirements for other types of PPE such as eye, hand, and head protection.