Federal Register #2026-11093

OSHA Proposed Rule Change: Medical Evaluation Requirements for Certain Respirators

This notice from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), under the Department of Labor, announces a proposed regulatory change rather than a procurement opportunity. - OSHA seeks public comment on amending the medical evaluation requirements in the Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134) - Focus is on filtering facepiece respirators and loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators - Proposal would remove some medical evaluation requirements for these specific respirator types - The rulemaking follows consultation with OSHA's Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) - ACCSH recommended against removing the requirements but encouraged best practices - No products, OEMs, or vendors are requested or specified - The notice reopens the comment period for an additional 30 days to gather further public input - This is a regulatory amendment, not a solicitation for goods or services

Description

OSHA is proposing to remove some medical evaluation requirements from the Respiratory Protection Rule, 29 CFR 1910.134, specifically for filtering facepiece respirators and loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators. This change aims to address the physiological burden on employees wearing these types of respirators. Following consultation with OSHA's Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH), OSHA is reopening the comment period for an additional 30 days to allow public input on the proposal. Written comments must be submitted by July 6, 2026.

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