Aug 20, 2026BoardMeeting
BoardOccupational Safety and Health Administration Informal Public Hearing
The hearing centered on the proposed amendment of medical evaluation requirements for certain respirators, specifically discussing the potential removal of mandatory medical evaluations for filtering face piece respirators and loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators. Discussions highlighted the administrative relief this would provide to volunteer fire departments while emphasizing the necessity to maintain existing medical evaluation requirements for self-contained breathing apparatuses used in immediate danger to life or health atmospheres. Additionally, the hearing addressed the need for continued enforcement of facial seal and fit-testing requirements regardless of changes to medical evaluation rules.