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Respirator Instructions

Voluntary Respirator Use is characterized by the employee requesting to use an N95 respirator when not required by the employer. Mandatory Respirator Use is characterized by the employer requiring the employee to wear an N95 respirator when performing potentially hazardous activities. Reference the table below to determine the appropriate designation.

Examples of Voluntary Respirator Usage

Examples of Mandatory Respirator Usage
  • COVID-19 concerns for at-risk individuals (e.g., immunocompromised, unvaccinated, elderly)
  • Hazardous air pollution due to wildfire events
  • Seasonal allergies for outdoor work environments
  • Working in non-hazardous dusty work environments
  • Odors within non-hazardous work environments
  • Workers who use BSL2 materials inside a biosafety cabinet
  • Potentially hazardous work operations (e.g., laboratory operations, chemicals, mold spores)
  • Medical settings (e.g., bioaerosols)
  • General work-related exposure to hazardous dusts, vapor/gases, and fumes/smoke
STEPS TO OBTAINING RESPIRATORY PROTECTION:
  1. Hazard Assessment Form and Medical Questionnaire
    • Submit a Respirator Hazard Assessment webform. An Industrial Hygienist will review your request and assign the appropriate respiratory protection. 
    • Submit a Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire here. Only submit the respirator questionnaire, unless you also require the Animal History Questionnaire.
    • Please allow approximately two weeks for review of medical questionnaires. Occupational Health or the Ashe Center will contact you if more information is needed, and will notify EH&S of approval/completion. 
       
  2. In the meantime, complete the appropriate pre-requisite online education by logging into Worksafe:
    First time users please read how to navigate Worksafe, otherwise enroll in the NEW! Respirator Protection Online Training - Worksafe Course ID: ENV-RESP-OL
    • Environment, Health and Safety has updated the UCLA Respiratory Program's online training component. Respirator Protection Online Training, a new combination training will replace the individual online respirator training modules (Half-Face and Full-Face Respirator Training and N-95 Respirator Education Training). 
    • When your current training expires, you will complete the new course, Respirator Protection Online Training (ENV-RESP-OL) to meet the associated training requirement.
    • Any training that has been completed will still be valid until its expiration date. Please address any questions to the Industrial Hygiene team's inbox indhyg@ehs.ucla.edu 
  3. Register for the appropriate in-person Fit Test session in Worksafe (N95 or Half-face/Full-face).
    • Use the Search box to locate the type of Fit testing you need.
    • NOTE: You must complete the medical evaluation process and training prior to fit-testing. Schedule your fit test at least two weeks from the submission of your Medical Questionnaire to allow for proper review.
  4. Complete in-person Fit Test and receive an electronic record of completion.
    • Please arrive for the fit test session on time and do not eat or drink at least 15 minutes prior to the session. Be sure to bring all of the respirators that you use.
    • Men must be clean-shaven to participate in the fit test. Please refer to this infographic for more information.
    • Fit Test sessions are held in TS Conference Rooms 124-C and 157, located inside Transportation Services on the first floor of the Strathmore Building (directions)."
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