Exposure Control Priority
- respirators provide adequate protection only if employers ensure, on a constant basis,
that they are properly fitted and worn.
- respirators protect only the employees who are wearing them from a hazard, rather than
reducing or eliminating the hazard from the workplace as a whole (which is what
engineering and work practice controls do).
- respirators are uncomfortable to wear, cumbersome to use, and interfere with
communication in the workplace, which can often be critical to maintaining safety and
health.
- the costs of operating a functional respiratory protection program are substantial — including regular medical examinations, fit testing, training, and the purchasing of equipment.
