OSHA’s Top 10 Citations and Choosing the Appropriate Respiratory Protection for Workers

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently released its preliminary list of the 10 most frequently cited safety and health violations for the 2018 fiscal year. Once again this year, respiratory protection made the top 10 list with a 4^th place ranking.

Respiratory protection places a critical role in worker health and safety. In fact, OSHA estimates that 5 million workers are required to wear respirators in 1.3 million workplaces throughout the United States. Respirators protect workers against insufficient oxygen environments, harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors and sprays. These hazards may cause cancer, lung impairment, asthma and other diseases, or death in extreme circumstances.

Compliance with the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard could avert many tragic deaths, countless illnesses and numerous costly citations. The standard applies to all occupational airborne exposures to contaminated air where the employee is:

• Exposed to a hazardous level of an airborne contaminant; or
• Required by the employer to wear respirators; or
• Permitted to wear respirators.

“The use of approved respirators can protect workers in two ways,” said Jody Thomason, Vice President of Products/Corporate Purchasing for EMSL Analytical, Inc. “First, by the removal of contaminants from the air. This type includes particulate respirators which filter out airborne particles and air-purifying respirators with cartridges or canisters that filter out chemicals and gases. The second category of respirators supplies clean respirable air from another source. These include airline respirators which use compressed air from a remote source and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Having the right respirator for the job, and knowing how to properly use it for any potential hazards encountered, is essential and often times required by law.”

To highlight the importance of respiratory protection and other common health and safety issues faced by workers, EMSL recently sponsored an educational video detailing OSHA’s Top 10 citations for 2018. The video can be seen at: https://youtu.be/PHX82aaROtI.

For access to a complete line of respirators, filters, accessories, fit testing supplies and other personal protective equipment (PPE) from EMSL’s Products Division, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email  info@EMSL.com .


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with over 45 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail