7/20/22
Quick Tips #143.1
The last revision to OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard, 29 CFR 1910.134, went into effect on October 5, 1998. Two additional rulemaking actions were taken to improve and streamline this OSHA standard – one in June 2011 and one in August 2012. Changes to the medical evaluation process were included in the 1998 revision. Whereas the previous standard required a physical by a physician, the revised standard requires the employee to fill out a medical questionnaire. The questionnaire is then evaluated by a licensed health care provider to establish the employee’s suitability to wear a respirator. The medical questionnaire and evaluation must be completed before a respirator is worn for the first time.
The following is the Medical Evaluation Questionnaire as it appears in the 29 CFR 1910.134 Appendix C.
Part A. Section 1. (Mandatory) The following information must be provided by every employee who has been selected to use any type of respirator (please print).
1. Today’s date: __________
2. Your name: ____________________
3. Your age (to nearest year): __________
4. Sex (circle one): Male/Female
5. Your height: _________ ft. _________ in.
6. Your weight: ___________ lbs.
7. Your job title: __________
8. A phone number where you can be reached by the health care professional who reviews this questionnaire (include the Area Code): __________
9. The best time to phone you at this number: __________
10. Has your employer told you how to contact the healthcare professional who will review this questionnaire? (circle one): Yes/No
11. Check the type of respirator you will use (you can check more than one category):
a. _____ N, R, or P disposable respirator (filter-mask, non-cartridge type only).
b. _____ Other type (for example, half- or full-facepiece type, powered-air purifying, supplied-air, self-contained breathing apparatus).
12. Have you worn a respirator (circle one): Yes/No
If yes, what type(s): __________
Part A. Section 2. (Mandatory)
Questions 1 through 9 below must be answered by every employee who has been selected to use any type of respirator (please circle yes or no).
1. Do you currently smoke tobacco, or have you smoked tobacco in the last month: Yes/No
2. Have you ever had any of the following conditions:
3. Have you ever had any of the following pulmonary or lung problems?
4. Do you currently have any of the following symptoms of pulmonary or lung illness?
5. Have you ever had any of the following cardiovascular or heart problems?
6. Have you ever had any of the following cardiovascular or heart symptoms?
7. Do you currently take medication for any of the following problems?
8. If you’ve used a respirator, have you ever had any of the following problems? (If you've never used a respirator, check the following space ____ and go to question 9:)
9. Would you like to talk to the healthcare professional who will review this questionnaire about your answers to this questionnaire: Yes/No
Questions 10 to 15 below must be answered by every employee who has been selected to use either a full-facepiece respirator or a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). For employees who have been selected to use other types of respirators, answering these questions is voluntary.
10. Have you ever lost vision in either eye (temporarily or permanently): Yes/No
11. Do you currently have any of the following vision problems?
12. Have you ever had an injury to your ears, including a broken ear drum: Yes/No
13. Do you currently have any of the following hearing problems?
14. Have you ever had a back injury: Yes/No
15. Do you currently have any of the following musculoskeletal problems?
Part B
Any of the following questions, and other questions not listed, may be added to the questionnaire at the discretion of the healthcare professional who will review the questionnaire.
1. In your present job, are you working at high altitudes (over 5,000 feet) or in a place that has lower than normal amounts of oxygen: Yes/No
If "yes," do you have feelings of dizziness, shortness of breath, pounding in your chest, or other symptoms when you're working under these conditions: Yes/No
2. At work or at home, have you ever been exposed to hazardous solvents, hazardous airborne chemicals, e.g., gases, fumes, or dust, or have you come into skin contact with hazardous chemicals: Yes/No
If "yes," name the chemicals if you know them: __________________________________________________
3. Have you ever worked with any of the materials, or under any of the conditions, listed below:
If “yes”, describe these exposures:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4. List any second jobs or side businesses you have:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
5. List your previous occupations:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
6. List your current and previous hobbies:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
7. Have you been in the military services: Yes/No
If “yes”, were you exposed to biological or chemical agents (either in training or combat): Yes/No
8. Have you ever worked on a HAZMAT team Yes/No
9. Other than medications for breathing and lung problems, heart trouble, blood pressure, and seizures mentioned earlier in this questionnaire, are you taking any other medications for any reason (including over-the-counter medications): Yes/No
If “yes”, name the medications if you know them:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
10. Will you be using any of the following items with your respirator(s):
11. How often are you expected to use the respirator(s) (circle “yes” or “no” for all answers that apply to you):
12. During the period you are using the respirator(s), is your work effort:
If “yes”, how long does this period last during the average shift? ___________hrs.____________mins.
Examples of a light work effort are sitting while writing, typing, drafting, or performing light assembly work; or standing while operating a drill press (1-3-lbs.) or controlling machines.
If “yes”, how long does this period last during the average shift? ___________hrs.____________mins.
Examples of moderate work effort are sitting while nailing or filing; driving a truck or bus in urban traffic; standing while drilling, nailing, performing assembly work, or transferring a moderate load (about 35-lbs.) at trunk level; walking on a level surface about 2-mph or down a 5-degree grade about 3-mph; or pushing a wheelbarrow with a heavy load (about 100-lbs.) on a level surface.
If “yes”, how long does this period last during the average shift? ___________hrs.____________mins.
Examples of heavy work are lifting a heavy load (about 50-lbs.) from the floor to your waist or shoulder; working on a loading dock; shoveling; standing while bricklaying or chipping castings; walking up an 8-degree grade about 2-mph; climbing stairs with a heavy load (about 50-lbs.).
13. Will you be wearing protective clothing and/or equipment (other than the respirator) when you’re using your respirator: Yes/No
If “yes”describe this protective clothing and/or equipment:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
14. Will you be working under hot conditions (temperature exceeding 77°F): Yes/No
15. Will you be working under humid conditions: Yes/No
16. Describe the work you’ll be doing while you’re using your respirator(s):
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
17. Describe any special or hazardous conditions you might encounter when you're using your respirator(s) (for example, confined spaces, life-threatening gases):
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
18. Provide the following information, if you know it, for each toxic substance that you'll be exposed to when you're using your respirator(s):
Name of the first toxic substance: __________
Estimated maximum exposure level per shift: __________
Duration of exposure per shift: __________
Name of the second toxic substance: __________
Estimated maximum exposure level per shift: __________
Duration of exposure per shift: __________
Name of the third toxic substance: __________
Estimated maximum exposure level per shift: __________
Duration of exposure per shift: __________
The name of any other toxic substances that you’ll be exposed to while using your respirator:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
19. Describe any special responsibilities you’ll have while using your respirator(s) that may affect the safety and well-being of others (for example, rescue, security):
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Grainger Services
RespiratorAssessor® is the latest addition to Grainger’s user-friendly occupational health software suite. It provides the medical evaluation questionnaire online and quickly generates unique authorization codes for each employee so they can complete it at any device that has internet access. Completed questionnaires are reviewed by a Board-Certified Occupational Health Physician and clearance results are returned within 24-hours.
Q: When must a medical evaluation be provided?
A: Employers must provide a medical evaluation to determine an employee’s ability to use a respirator before he/she is fit tested or required to use a respirator in the workplace. The employer must also identify a physician or other licensed health care professional to perform the medical evaluations using a medical questionnaire or an initial medical examination that gathers the same information as the questionnaire.
Q: Do all questions require the potential for a medical examination?
A: No, not all questions require a potential for a follow-up medical examination. Answers to questions in Section 1, and to question 9 in Section 2 of part A, do not require a follow-up medical examination. Employers must ensure that a follow-up medical examination is provided for employees who respond positively to any question among questions 1 through 8 in Section 2 Part A of the questionnaire or whose initial medical examination shows the need for a follow-up medical examination.
Q: Must time be set aside by the employer for the employee to complete the questionnaire?
A: Yes, employers must allow employees to complete the questionnaire during normal working hours, or at a time and place that is convenient for the employee.
Q: How is confidentiality maintained?
A: To maintain the employee’s confidentiality, the employer must not look at or review the employee’s answers and must tell the employee how to deliver or send this questionnaire to the health care professional who will review it.
The information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only and is based on information available as of the initial date of publication. No representation is made that the information or references are complete or remain current. This article is not a substitute for review of current applicable government regulations, industry standards, or other standards specific to your business and/or activities and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions should refer to the applicable standards or consult with an attorney.
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