In Rhode Island, a serious violation of 29 CFR 1910.134 (Respiratory Protection) carries a maximum penalty of $16,550 per violation in 2026, rising to $165,514 for a willful or repeat violation. Respiratory Protection is enforced for private construction employers by federal OSHA.
29 CFR 1910.134 · Rhode Island
Respiratory Protection Requirements in Rhode Island
Respiratory Protection in Rhode Island: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1910.134, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
Rhode IslandGeneral Industry (29 CFR 1910)Federal OSHA Jurisdiction
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1910.134 22 times in Rhode Island construction (5.7% of its construction citations there, the 6th most-cited standard there). The paragraph cited most was 1910.134(e)(1), general, with 5 citations.
22
1910.134 citations in Rhode Island construction, FY2025
(e)(1)
paragraph cited most in Rhode Island (5 citations)
1.1
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers, all industries, Rhode Island, 2024 (BLS)
Federal OSHA in Rhode Island: 29 CFR 1910.134, FY2025
Counted · 2026-09-2622
citations of 29 CFR 1910.134 in 8 inspections
$14,742
penalties, current amounts ($21,384 as first proposed)
5.7%
of the 388 federal construction citations in Rhode Island
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1910.134 (Respiratory Protection) 22 times in inspections of Rhode Island construction employers. It ranked sixth of the 53 standards cited in them. By classification: 12 serious, 10 other-than-serious. Most-cited paragraphs: 1910.134(e)(1) (5), 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A) (4), 1910.134(f)(1) (3).
Counted by HazComFast from the U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA enforcement data (inspection and violation tables, retrieved September 26, 2026): citations issued October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025 on federal OSHA inspections of construction employers (NAICS 23) in the state, deleted citations excluded, penalties at current amounts. OSHA's own cited-standards tool does not break federal states out; summed over every state, this count matches it within a few citations (6,778 for 1926.501, against 6,772). data.dol.gov
What federal OSHA is targeting in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has no state OSHA plan for private-sector work, so there is no state rule to read. What differs here is which hazards federal OSHA schedules inspections for, as set out in published emphasis directives.
Regional Local Emphasis Program for Noise in the Workplace
BOS-CPL-04-00-029 · Boston Regional Office · effective October 1, 2024
“This instruction applies to Federal OSHA, Boston Region jurisdiction.”
Noise carries its own programmed-inspection program across the Boston region. It is the program most likely to put a hearing conservation file and a PPE hazard assessment in front of an inspector in these five states, and it runs alongside the region's residential construction, crane and forklift programs rather than instead of them.
Harmful exposures and work deaths in Rhode Island, 2024
Rhode Island recorded 6 fatal work injuries in 2024, the same as in 2023. BLS did not publish a separate 2024 count of deaths from exposure to harmful substances or environments for Rhode Island.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Rhode Island, 2024
How Rhode Island Enforces 29 CFR 1910.134
Rhode Island has no State Plan, so federal OSHA has jurisdiction. 29 CFR 1910.134 is enforced by U.S. Department of Labor compliance officers using standard federal procedures and the federal penalty maximums.
In Rhode Island, the FY2025 citations under 29 CFR 1910.134 went most often to Masonry Contractors (12) and Painting and Wall Covering Contractors (5). A single inspection can produce several per-instance citations. Recurring self-audits against 29 CFR 1910.134, before an officer arrives, are the most reliable defense.
Help and oversight in Rhode Island
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In Rhode Island, the program is Work Safer R.I. Consultation Program, Office of Healthy Homes and Environment (Rhode Island Department of Health). OSHA describes it as “Primarily for smaller businesses, no-cost, confidential consultations help employers identify and address hazards and establish or improve safety and health programs.” It is separate from OSHA enforcement; the employer commits to correcting serious hazards.
Rhode Island consultation program · OSHA consultation directory
Who inspects private employers here
Federal OSHA, from the Providence Area Office (Providence).
Read on osha.gov and the state's official statute site, September 26, 2026.
Rhode Island Penalty Amounts for 29 CFR 1910.134 (2026)
Verified · 2026-10-05| Violation type | 2026 maximum | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | $16,550 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Willful | $165,514 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Repeat | $165,514 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Failure to abate | $16,550/day | up to $16,550 per day; total capped at 30x the daily amount (FOM Ch.6) |
Rhode Island applies the federal OSHA maximums. Amounts are ceilings per violation. Federal OSHA reduces the proposed penalty for employer size, good faith and history (FOM CPL 02-00-164 Ch. 6). There was no inflation increase for 2026: the 2025 amounts remain in effect (OMB Memo M-26-11).
Key Respiratory Protection Requirements 29 CFR 1910.134
- Establish written respiratory protection program
- Conduct medical evaluations before fit testing
- Perform annual fit testing for tight-fitting respirators
- Provide NIOSH-certified respirators
- Train on proper use and limitations
- Designate qualified program administrator
Who enforces it in Rhode Island: Federal OSHA inspects private construction employers; Rhode Island has no State Plan.
The compliance checklist, the paragraphs OSHA cites nationally and what an inspector checks under 29 CFR 1910.134 are on the 29 CFR 1910.134 page.
Most-Cited Respiratory Protection Paragraphs in Rhode Island, FY2025
Federal OSHA issued 22 citations under 29 CFR 1910.134 to Rhode Island construction employers in FY2025. The paragraphs cited most, with the official text. A serious violation carries up to $16,550.
- 1
1910.134(e)(1) General. 5 citations
“The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator …”
- 2
1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A) 4 citations
“Facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function; or”
- 3
1910.134(c)(1) 3 citations
“In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer shall establish and implement …”
- 4
1910.134(f)(1) 3 citations
“The employer shall ensure that employees using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator pass an appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT) as stated in this paragraph.”
- 5
1910.134(c)(2)(ii) 1 citation
“In addition, the employer must establish and implement those elements of a written respiratory protection program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily is medically …”
- 6
1910.134(c)(3) 1 citation
“The employer shall designate a program administrator who is qualified by appropriate training or experience that is commensurate with the complexity of the program to administer or oversee …”
HazComFast count from the Labor Department's OSHA enforcement data: citations issued in FY2025 to construction employers (NAICS 23), by the paragraph cited. Paragraph text: eCFR, current as of September 24, 2026. data.dol.gov
Rhode Island Safety & Enforcement Profile
26,559
Federal construction citations (national, FY2025)
388 of them in Rhode Island (HazComFast count)
Federal OSHA
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in Rhode Island, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (35), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (30) and Residential Remodelers (26), out of 183 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Cited most under 29 CFR 1910.134 in Rhode Island, FY2025: Masonry Contractors (12), Painting and Wall Covering Contractors (5) and New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (3), of 22 citations.
- Fatal injury rate in Rhode Island, 2024: 1.1 per 100,000 full-time workers, all industries. BLS did not publish a 2024 construction rate here.
HazComFast count from the Labor Department's OSHA enforcement data: inspections of construction employers (NAICS 23) opened from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025, federal OSHA and State Plan combined, grouped by the inspected employer's 2022 NAICS industry. HazComFast count from the Labor Department's OSHA enforcement data: citations issued in FY2025 to construction employers (NAICS 23), grouped by the cited employer's 2022 NAICS industry. Industry names are the Census Bureau's 2022 NAICS titles. data.dol.gov · BLS fatality rates by state, 2024
Free Respiratory Protection Compliance Tools
Respiratory Protection FAQ for Rhode Island
Which Rhode Island construction trades are cited most under Respiratory Protection?
In FY2025, federal OSHA issued 22 citations under 29 CFR 1910.134 to Rhode Island construction employers, most often to Masonry Contractors (12), Painting and Wall Covering Contractors (5) and New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (3) (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data, by the cited employer's NAICS industry). Federal OSHA inspects these employers directly, since Rhode Island has no state plan covering the private sector. For context, federal OSHA issued 388 citations across 128 inspections of Rhode Island construction employers in FY2025 (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data). Companies in these trades should self-audit against 29 CFR 1910.134 on a recurring basis.
How often is Respiratory Protection cited on Rhode Island jobsites?
OSHA's cited-standards tool does not break Rhode Island out, but the Labor Department's enforcement data do: in FY2025, federal OSHA issued 388 citations across 128 inspections of Rhode Island construction employers, 22 of them under 29 CFR 1910.134 (HazComFast count). A Respiratory Protection citation in Rhode Island can come from any inspection: programmed, complaint-driven or post-accident. Rhode Island's fatality figures are shown above.
Who enforces respiratory protection in Rhode Island?
Federal OSHA, not a state agency. Rhode Island has no state plan, so federal compliance officers from OSHA's Boston region inspect and cite 1910.134 in general industry and construction.
Can I get free OSHA help in Rhode Island without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in Rhode Island is Work Safer R.I. Consultation Program, Office of Healthy Homes and Environment (Rhode Island Department of Health). OSHA describes it this way: "Primarily for smaller businesses, no-cost, confidential consultations help employers identify and address hazards and establish or improve safety and health programs." Consultations are separate from OSHA enforcement, and the employer commits to correcting serious hazards.
How often does federal OSHA cite 29 CFR 1910.134 in Rhode Island construction?
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1910.134 (Respiratory Protection) 22 times in 8 inspections of Rhode Island construction employers, with $14,742 in penalties at current amounts ($21,384 as first proposed), 5.7% of the 388 citations those inspections produced. It ranked sixth of the 53 standards cited. (HazComFast count from U.S. Department of Labor OSHA enforcement data, retrieved 2026-09-26.)
Respiratory Protection Guides & Resources
Compare this combination against any other state and standard with the enforcement risk lookup.
Related standards
Respiratory Protection in Other States
14 other state plans write a rule of their own for 29 CFR 1910.134 rather than adopting the federal text unchanged. Those are listed first. Compare all of them side by side.
Alaska8 AAC 61.1030Arizona29 CFR 1910.134 as adopted by A.A.C. R20-5-602, with R20-5-602.02 for Subpart UCalifornia8 CCR §5144, with §5141.1 for wildfire smokeown maxHawaii29 CFR 1910.134 as incorporated by HAR §12-60-50(a), with the air contaminant exhibits at (d)(3)Indiana610 IAC 9-3-1, incorporating 29 CFR 1904.0 to 1904.46 as it existed January 1, 2006own maxMaryland29 CFR 1910.134 as adopted by COMAR 09.12.31.01, with COMAR 09.12.32.05own maxNevadaNRS 618.297 (wildfire smoke air quality)North Carolina13 NCAC 07F .0103, adding a training level to 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)
Other OSHA Standards in Rhode Island
Sources & verification
Penalty amounts and plan-type data were checked on 2026-10-05 against eCFR, OSHA.gov, and the Federal Register. This page is informational and not legal advice; consult the enforcing agency or counsel for your specific situation.
Get the Binder in Order Before the Inspector Arrives. Are You Ready?
OSHA does not give advance notice of inspections (29 CFR 1903.6). Get the binder in order before the opening conference, not during it.
Serious Violation
$16,550
per violation (max)
VS
HazComFast Pro
$199/mo
10 jobsites, unlimited chemicals, unlimited workers
New sign-ups are paused. The free tools below need no account, and customers can log in as usual.
Your account keeps working as usual. Cancel anytime.