September 26th, 2019 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
FR 84 50739-50756 29 CFR Part 1910
Additional Ambient Aerosol CNC
Quantitative Fit Testing Protocols: Respiratory Protection Standard
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: OSHA is approving two additional quantitative fit testing protocols for inclusion in appendix A of the Respiratory Protection Standard. These protocols are: The modified ambient aerosol condensation nuclei counter (CNC) quantitative fit testing protocol for full-facepiece and half-mask elastomeric respirators and the modified ambient aerosol CNC quantitative fit testing protocol for filtering facepiece respirators. The protocols apply to employers in general industry, shipyard employment, and the construction industry. Both protocols are abbreviated variations of the original OSHA approved ambient aerosol CNC quantitative fit testing protocol (often referred to as the PortaCount® protocal), but differ from the test by the exercise sets, exercise duration, and sampling sequence. These protocols will serve as alternatives to the four existing quantitative fit testing protocols already listed in appendix A of the Respiratory Protection Standard and will maintain safety and health protections for workers while providing additional flexibility and reducing compliance burdens.
DATES: The final rule becomes effective
on September 26, 2019.
and
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-09-26/pdf/FR-2019-09-26.pdf