Respiratory Protection

What is the App State Respiratory Protection Program?

The App State Respiratory Protection Program is an OSHA-mandated program that applies to all employees, including student employees and Graduate Assistants, who wear respirators on the job.

The App State Respiratory Protection Program consists of four basic components:

  1. An inital medical evaluation.*
  2. Periodic follow-up medical evaluations if required by OSHA, State or University policy, or when recommended by the occupational medicine provider.
  3. Annual training.**
  4. Annual fit-testing, except for employees who wear loose-fitting respirators (such as a powered air purifying respirator with a hood rather than a face mask).***

* There is only one exception to the medical evaluation requirement: employees who choose to, but are not required to, wear a filtering facepiece respirator (a.k.a. disposable "dust mask"). This is called "voluntary use" of a filtering facepiece. The most common type of filtering facepiece is an "N95" respirator.

** Annual training is recommended but not required for voluntary use of any respirator.

*** Employees who wear loose-fitting respirators (such as a powered air purifying respirator with a hood rather than a face mask) must attend annual training, but they are not required to be fit-tested (because fit on a loose-fitting facepiece cannot be measured).

Need Assistance with Respiratory Protection?

Need Assistance with Respiratory Protection?

If you need to enroll in the respiratory protection program, get fit-tested, or have questions about respirator use in your job, fill out the Respiratory Protection Program Form and the Industrial Hygiene Manager will reach out to you soon!

Questions can't wait? Contact the Industrial Hygiene Manager now!

Training & Tests

For non-academic employees, fit tests will be scheduled through your supervisor. For academic employees, the Respiratory Protection Program Manager will email you directly to schedule. All required medical evaluations & online training must be completed before your training/fit-testing.

To access the online training, contact your supervisor or the Respiratory Protection Program Manager.

If you have never been fit-tested before, you need to get your initial medical evaluation done beforehand. Check with your supervisor or the Respiratory Protection Program Manager to arrange your initial online medical evaluation.

If you are required to have periodic follow-up medical evaluations, be sure to get yours done before fit-testing. Check with your supervisor or the Respiratory Protection Program Manager to arrange your periodic online medical evaluation.

Voluntary Use of Filtering Facepiece

If you choose to (but are not required to) wear a filtering facepiece ("dust mask" of "disposable") type respirator, you need only complete and return a simple one-page form to EHS&EM. You do not need to enroll in the Respiratory Protection Program, so no medical evaluation, training, or fit-testing are required.

Have Questions?

If you have a situation not addressed here, please contact the Respiratory Protection Program Manager (safety@appstate.edu or 828-262-4008) for help.