709 Personal Protective Equipment

Medical Determination

In determining the employee's ability to use a respirator, the employer must obtain a written recommendation regarding the employee's ability to use the respirator from the PLHCP. The recommendation must provide only the following information:

• Any limitations on using the respirator due to the medical condition of the employee or the workplace conditions where the respirator will be used, including whether the employee is medically fit to use the respirator.
• The need, if any, for follow-up medical evaluations.
• A statement that the PLHCP has provided the employee with a copy of the PLHCP's written recommendation.

If the respirator is a negative pressure respirator and the PLHCP finds a medical condition that may place the employee's health at increased risk if the respirator is used, the employer must provide a Positive Air Pressure Respirator (PAPR) if the PLHCP's medical evaluation finds that the employee can use such a respirator; if a subsequent medical evaluation finds that the employee is medically able to use a negative pressure respirator, then the employer is no longer required to provide a PAPR.

Additional Medical Evaluations

At a minimum, the employer must provide additional medical evaluations that comply with the requirements of this section if:

• An employee reports medical signs or symptoms that are related to their ability to use a respirator.
• A PLHCP, supervisor, or the respirator program administrator informs the employer that an employee needs to be reevaluated.
• Information from the respiratory protection program, including observations made during fit testing and program evaluation, indicates a need for employee reevaluation.
• A change occurs in workplace conditions (e.g., physical work effort, protective clothing, or temperature) that may result in a substantial increase in the physiological burden placed on an employee.

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