Chicago Workers' Compensation Attorney Blog

Respirators can be confusing at times, but they're a necessity to help to keep workers across the U.S. safe on the job. Every day, employees rely on respirators to provide a clean air supply to help to reduce the risks of injury and illness on the job in Chicago and elsewhere.

To help to push the importance of these devices and to offer employers and employees with some helpful information, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released 17 new videos. In each of the videos, workers can learn about these devices and why they are so beneficial. A respirator can help to reduce the risks of serious injury and even death to workers. Employers are required to provide these devices to deserving individuals. Without respirators, you could breathe in harmful materials and chemicals causing serious damage to your body.

Our Chicago workers compensation attorneys may not be required to use respirators on the job, but we understand how important the use of these devices is. Friends and family members of ours use these devices every day and rely on them to protect their well-being in dangerous work areas. Still, every year there are workers exposed to dangerous air that has the potential to cause serious injury. As a matter of fact, it is estimated that about 5 million U.S. workers wear respirators in about 1.3 million work sites. Respirators help to protect your lungs from insufficient oxygen, harmful fogs, gases, sprays, dusts, mists and vapors. These materials that can cause lung impairment, cancer, other diseases and even death.

When both employers and employees comply with OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard, the risks for these types of injuries can be drastically minimized and hundreds of workplace injuries and fatalities can be avoided.

Of the 17 videos provided by OSHA, there are eight in Spanish and nine in English. They are also available with closed captioning. You can download them from OSHA's website and bring them in to work to share with your coworkers. These videos offer important information to those who work in both general and construction industries. Included in these videos are discussions regarding the proper use of respirators, training to get familiar with the devices, how to make sure your respirator fits properly and how to spot a counterfeit respirator.

Currently, there are twenty-five states, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico that have OSHA-approved State Plans. They have also already adopted their very own standards and enforcement policies to make sure appropriate workers are protected with respirators on the job. In many cases, standards and policies are the same as the ones provided by OSHA.

The Respirator Protection Standard was launched in April of 1998. Since then, employers have been required to use these devices to help to protect employees who work around dangerous and inhalant materials. Employers and employees are urged to take a look at these new videos and to spread the word around your job. These videos could potentially help to save a life.