OSHA issues COVID-19 FAQs about respirators, face masks, and face coverings

With summer in full swing and federal and state restrictions being lifted, many employers that are reopening or ramping up business have sought to provide or require some form of respirator, face mask, or face covering for their employees. Depending on the type of face mask that's used and whether masks are mandated by the employer or merely permitted when employees opt to voluntarily use them, employers must follow certain requirements under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) respiratory protection standard, 29 C.F.R. 1910.134 ( https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/interlinking/standards/1910.134(a)/regulations) and perhaps other regulations. Last week, OSHA issued a series of FAQs (https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/covid-19-faq.html) about face coverings to help employers navigate their obligations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Paper or cloth face masks

You may be permitting or even requiring employees to use some form of loose-fitting paper or cloth mask, or even a generic face covering like a bandana, at the workplace. Those types of masks are not considered respirators, and none of them are considered personal protective equipment (PPE). As a general rule, loose-fitting masks (no seal around the mouth and nose) do not provide a reliable level of protection from inhaling airborne particles. Rather, they are intended to protect others from the wearer's secretions.