Respiratory Physicals

OSHA Physicals

Respiratory physicals ensure employees who are exposed to respirable toxins are properly protected and help employers make informed decisions about which employees can use respirators under specific environmental conditions and physical demands.

A respiratory medical evaluation can help detect if wearing a respirator will limit or interfere with breathing, vision, communication or use of other required equipment.

Who and how often:

Employers must provide respiratory protection to their employees when such equipment is necessary to protect the health of the employee against breathing airborne containments.

Before wearing a respirator, workers must first be medically evaluated by a Physician or Licensed Health Care Provider (PLHCP). Respiratory medical evaluations are required every one to two years, depending on the respirator type, job type, the employee’s health status, environmental conditions, and other regulatory requirements.

At CNS OccMed, we help ensure that companies remain in compliance with the to the OSHA respiratory protection standard, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134.

What are the OSHA Regulations?

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134

A respirator shall be provided to each employee when such equipment is necessary to protect the health of such employee. The employer shall provide respirators which are applicable and suitable for the purpose intended. The employer shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a respiratory protection program. The employer is responsible for ensuring that a medical evaluation is performed to ensure that using a respirator will not place a physiological burden on the employee

Respirator Fit Testing

Two Types:

What do we do?

How we perform service and the steps

Our Occupational Medicine Team follows a specific process for every employee that is tested, including a respirator fit test

1. Prior to any employee evaluation, employers are required to complete an information evaluation form on each employee that specifically outlines:

The respirator type and weight to be used
Respirator use- duration and frequency
Expected work effort
Expected temperature and humidity conditions
Other required personal protective equipment (PPE) to be used in conjunction with the respirator

*CNS OccMed will provide this form to the employer ahead of time for completion

2. The employee will be evaluated using the mandatory OSHA “Respiratory Medical Evaluation Questionnaire.”

This will be reviewed by a PLHCP
When required by the PLHCP, additional follow-up testing may include-
- A medical exam by the PLCHP
- Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)
- EKG
- Chest X-Ray
- Blood draw
- Tuberculosis (TB) test
- Urine sample
- Audiogram

*These services can be provided by the CNS OccMed Team and most can be performed on the same day of the screening

3. When an employee is medically cleared to wear a respirator, the PLHCP clinician will provide the employee and employer with a written medical opinion for respirator use.

This will include any limitations on respirator use, including whether or not the employee is medically able to use the respirator

If an employee is not cleared for respirator use, or we become aware of potential limitations associated with a certain type of respirator, the PLHCP may request additional medical information or recommend an alternative type of respirator

4. After being medical cleared for respirator use, the employee may undergo a respirator fit test

OSHA requires a respirator medical evaluation be done before the initial respirator fit test
The respirator medical evaluation and respirator fit test must be completed before respirator use on the job

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Looking for something different?

We also offer many other Physicals, Screenings and Tests and Employer Services from Biometric Screenings to Work Injury Treatment Plans.

We offer a number of screenings, tests, and other medical services from Biometric Screenings to Vaccinations to X-Rays, and more.

We offer a number of physicals related to DOT, Non-DOT Medical Services, and OSHA-Related work, such as DOT Physicals, Respiratory and HAZMAT/HAZWOPER Physicals, and more.

We offer services for all different types of employers, whether you are regulated by DOT, OSHA or any other government organization. We can manage your Work Injury Treatment Plans.

OnSite Clinic Services

Our Onsite Clinics can be utilized in one of two ways, Onsite Clinical Staffing or Mobile Onsite Clinics. This means we can either send a team of staff members to your place of business and use your facility to administer services or they can perform the services in our Mobile Clinic.

Our Onsite Clinical Staff are contracted to perform the medical services you need, when you need them, utilizing your facility spaces.

Our medical staff will coordinate with you to determine the best place to set up our Mobile Health Clinic as well as how long you would need the unit.