Under a revised respiratory standard published Jan. 8 by OSHA, employers will have to develop a written program to protect workers that wear respirators.

Although the previous standard also required a written program that covered certain aspects of respirators, such as use and cleaning, OSHA says that “the general elements have been expanded, reordered, and updated.”

The rule is expected to affect about 1.3 million workplaces at a cost of $111 million annually, or an average of $22 per covered worker per year.

This final rule replaces respiratory protection standards that were adopted by OSHA in 1971. The new rule becomes effective April 8, 1998.

For more information, contact Bonnie Friedman, Director, OSHA Office of Public Affairs, 202-219-8148.