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Respiratory Protection

The University of Arizona (UA) Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) is administered by EH.  All UA employees, students, and volunteers must be evaluated, cleared, trained, and fit tested to obtain respirators at the University of Arizona, as mandated by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).

See steps for respirator compliance below:

To determine respiratory protection needs, EHS must provide a documented hazard assessment.

  1. To begin the process, check if you are already enrolled by navigating to the User Dashboard. If you are not, please contact us at ehs-help@arizona.edu for an assessment or assistance.

Once determined that a respirator is needed, all workers using one must be evaluated and medically cleared to use respiratory protection. Complete and submit the OSHA Respirator form via the User Dashboard. If the form is not available on the User Dashboard, please contact EHS at ehs-help@arizona.edu. For questions about the actual medical clearance form should be sent to occhealth-support@email.arizona.edu. 

Medical clearances are only required every 3 years, unless more frequent clearances are determined to be required by a healthcare professional.

Once medically cleared, all workers must be trained and fit tested annually. 

  1. After medical clearance, you will be provided with a scheduling link.
    1. Select the type(s) of respirator needed, whether an N95 or half/full-face type.
    2. Select the correct location -- we provide fit testing in Tucson weekly and Phoenix (at downtown PBC location) monthly.
  2. For those located outside of Tucson or who cannot access the PBC location, please contact us to schedule your fit test at ehs-help@arizona.edu. 

Voluntary Respirator Use

The only exception to the steps list above is when a respirator, N95 style only, is used voluntarily. Voluntary use requires that the hazards have been evaluated and there is nothing requiring the use of respiratory protection, it is only being used as a precaution. Contact ehs-help@arizona.edu to obtain the voluntary use form and complete the process.