Online Course · Respirator Use
Respiratory Protection Training for Respirator Users
A respirator that leaks, is overdue for new cartridges or is the wrong type for the hazard gives false confidence. This respiratory protection training teaches users why each part of the program matters and how to get a good seal every time.
How the Respiratory Protection Standard Works
When engineering controls cannot reduce airborne contaminants enough, OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.134 requires employers to provide respirators and run a written respiratory protection program. That program includes respirator selection, a medical evaluation before an employee is fit tested or uses a respirator, fit testing for tight-fitting facepieces before first use and at least annually, procedures for use and maintenance, and training.
Training must happen before an employee first uses a respirator and at least annually after that, and employees must be able to demonstrate what they learned. This online course covers the knowledge elements of that training in a format that is easy to repeat each year.
Supervisors and program administrators benefit from the course too. Understanding the full program helps them notice a worn strap, an expired cartridge or a newly grown beard before it becomes an exposure, and makes the annual refresher a conversation rather than a checkbox.
Respirator Types Covered
| Type | How it works | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|
| Filtering facepiece (e.g., N95) | Disposable air-purifying mask that filters particles | Dusts, some mists, many healthcare uses |
| Elastomeric half or full facepiece | Reusable mask with replaceable filters or chemical cartridges | Paint spraying, solvents, silica and other dusts |
| Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) | Blower pushes filtered air into a hood or facepiece | Long-duration work, users who cannot get a tight seal with some models |
| Supplied-air respirator | Clean air delivered by hose from a compressor or cylinders | Abrasive blasting, high concentrations |
| Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) | Wearer carries their own air supply | Atmospheres immediately dangerous to life or health, emergency response |
What Respirator Users Learn
- Why the respirator is necessary and how improper fit, use or maintenance can compromise protection
- The limitations and capabilities of the respirator they are issued
- How to inspect, put on, remove and perform a user seal check every time they don it
- Why facial hair or anything else between the seal and the face is not allowed with tight-fitting respirators
- Cartridge and filter change schedules, and why smell is not a reliable signal for most gases
- Cleaning, disinfecting and storing reusable respirators
- Recognizing medical signs and symptoms that may limit respirator use
- What to do in an emergency or if a respirator malfunctions
Fit Testing vs. Seal Checks
These two terms are often confused. A fit test is a formal qualitative or quantitative test that confirms a specific make, model and size of respirator seals on a person's face; it happens before first use, annually and whenever face shape changes. A user seal check is the quick positive- and negative-pressure check the wearer performs every time they put the respirator on. The course explains both so employees arrive at their fit test knowing what to expect and keep checking afterward.
Voluntary use
When an employee chooses to wear a respirator where none is required, the employer must still give them the information in Appendix D of the standard, and filtering facepieces worn voluntarily have lighter program requirements. The course touches on this so supervisors know the difference.
Common Workplaces That Need This Course
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Painting and coating
Spray booths, refinishing and industrial maintenance.
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Construction
Cutting, grinding and drilling concrete and stone where silica dust is generated.
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Labs and biotech
Chemical handling and some biological work.
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Agriculture and food
Grain dust, ammonia refrigeration and sanitation chemicals.
Respiratory Protection FAQs
How often is respirator training required?
Before first use and at least annually, plus whenever changes in the workplace or respirator type make earlier training obsolete or an employee shows they have not retained it.
Does this course include a fit test?
No. Fit testing has to be done in person with the specific respirator. The online course prepares employees for it.
Can someone with a beard wear a tight-fitting respirator?
Not if facial hair comes between the sealing surface and the face. Loose-fitting PAPR hoods are one option to discuss with your program administrator.