Federal regulations require employers to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures and elements for required N95 masks or other respirator use. The program must be administered by a suitably trained program administrator. In addition, certain program elements may be required for voluntary use of an N95 to prevent potential hazards associated with the use of the respirator (see paragraph 29 CFR 1910. 134(c) of the United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration).

In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer shall establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. The program shall be updated as necessary to reflect those changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use (see paragraph 1910.134(c)).

An employer may provide N95 masks or other respirators at the request of employees or permit employees to use their own N95 mask or other respirators, if the employer determines that such respirator use will not in itself create a hazard. If the employer determines that any voluntary respirator use is permissible, the employer shall provide the respirator users with the information contained in 29 C FR 1910. 134 Appendix D of to this section (“Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard”).

In addition, the employer must establish and implement those elements of a written respiratory protection program necessary to ensure that any employee using a N95 mask or other respirator voluntarily is medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator is cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user. (See paragraph 1910.134 (c)(3)).