Medical Evaluations

Medical Evaluations are a required first step before any employee can wear a respirator or participate in respirator fit testing. They ensure that each worker is physically and medically capable of using respiratory protection safely on the job.

Your employer is responsible for determining whether you are medically able to wear a respirator. This is not optional and cannot be skipped. Simply filling out a medical questionnaire in the field does not meet OSHA requirements unless it is reviewed and approved by a Physician or other Licensed Healthcare Professional (PLHCP), such as a Registered Nurse or Physician’s Assistant.

Respirators place additional stress on the body and can make breathing more difficult. Not everyone is medically able to wear one. Certain conditions may limit or prevent respirator use, including but not limited to:

• Heart conditions
• Lung or respiratory diseases
• High blood pressure
• Psychological conditions such as claustrophobia or anxiety disorders

Because of these risks, OSHA and State OSHA Agencies require employers to provide medical evaluations at no cost to employees who are required to wear respirators as part of their job duties.

The OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire is specifically designed to identify medical conditions that could place a worker at risk of serious health consequences while using a respirator. The questionnaire must be administered in a way that ensures the employee understands the content, and all answers must be provided truthfully and completely. Based on the responses, the Licensed Healthcare Professional may:

• Approve the employee for respirator use
• Place limitations or restrictions on respirator use
• Require a follow-up medical exam
• Disqualify respirator use if it presents a health risk

Our Medical Evaluation service helps employers stay compliant while protecting the health and safety of their workforce.

We coordinate proper administration, review by qualified medical professionals, and documentation needed for OSHA compliance. This ensures your respiratory protection program is built on a safe and legally compliant foundation before fit testing and respirator use begin.

OSHA-Compliant Respirator Medical Evaluations for Workforce Safety and Readiness

Medical Evaluations are not just a regulatory requirement—they are a critical safeguard that protects employees from serious injury or medical emergencies while performing hazardous work.

1910.134(e) Medical Evaluation. Using a respirator may place a physiological burden on employees that varies with the type of respirator worn, the job and workplace conditions in which the respirator is used, and the medical status of the employee.

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