If you are required to wear any respirator related to your work duties or work environment you must follow the requirements of the Respiratory Protection Program.  If you are not required but would like to wear a dust mask for comfort or nuisance level protection, you must be approved for voluntary respirator use and receive a review of the contents of Appendix D of OSHA’s respiratory protection standard.  This information is available on the EHS website “OSHA Respirator Standard Appendix D with Verification” (https://ehs.psu.edu/respiratory-protection/forms). 

Contact your Supervisor, College or Department Safety Officer, or EHS to determine if a hazard evaluation has been completed for the work activities.  If a review is required, EHS will conduct the hazard/exposure evaluation in consultation with appropriate department personnel.

Yes, Penn State’s Respiratory Protection Program applies to all employee operations where respirator use is either required, or voluntary.  For specific information regarding respiratory use requirements refer to the Respiratory Protection Program (https://ehs.psu.edu/respiratory-protection/requirements-guidelines).