Lawmakers Urge OSHA to Reconsider Respiratory Protection Changes
A congressional letter raises concerns about proposed changes to respirator requirements and medical evaluations for workers.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Oct 29, 2026
A group of 27 Democratic lawmakers is urging the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to withdraw proposed changes to workplace respiratory protection requirements, citing concerns about potential risks to workers exposed to hazardous substances.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., led the effort in an Oct. 29 letter to Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Keeling. The lawmakers argue that the proposals could weaken protections for employees working around substances such as lead, asbestos, formaldehyde and inorganic arsenic.
OSHA has proposed revisions to respiratory protection provisions in several substance-specific standards. The agency says the changes would allow greater flexibility in respirator selection and better align existing requirements with its general Respiratory Protection Standard.
A separate proposal would eliminate mandatory medical evaluations for employees using filtering facepiece respirators, including N95 masks, and loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators.
OSHA has said the medical evaluation changes would reduce regulatory burdens on employers because these types of respirators generally place fewer physiological demands on users. Medical evaluation requirements would remain in place for employees using other types of respirators.
The lawmakers contend that removing the evaluations could create additional risks for workers with underlying medical conditions. They also questioned the pace of the rulemaking process and cited concerns raised by labor organizations, medical professionals and construction industry representatives.
In their letter, the lawmakers pointed to opposition from the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health, which recommended against proceeding with the medical evaluation proposal.
National Nurses United and other labor organizations have also expressed concerns about how the changes could affect workers exposed to airborne hazards.
The proposals are part of a broader Department of Labor effort to review existing workplace regulations and reduce compliance burdens.
The respiratory protection changes have not been finalized. Until any revisions take effect, employers must continue complying with existing OSHA respiratory protection requirements.
Lawmakers are asking OSHA to retain current protections as the agency considers the proposed revisions.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the content editor of Occupational Health & Safety.