In Vermont, Respiratory Protection is enforced for private construction employers by Vermont OSHA (VOSHA). Vermont sets its own penalty maximums under 21 V.S.A. §210, adjusted each year; this page does not reproduce the current state table. For reference, the federal maximums are $16,550 for a serious violation and $165,514 for a willful or repeat violation.
29 CFR 1910.134 · Vermont
Respiratory Protection Requirements in Vermont
Respiratory Protection in Vermont: 2026 penalties, who enforces Vermont Permissible Exposure Limits, Table Z-1-A, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
VermontGeneral Industry (29 CFR 1910)State Plan: Vermont OSHA (VOSHA)
In FY2025, Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) cited 29 CFR 1910.134 1 time in Vermont construction (1.1% of its construction citations there). The paragraph cited most was 1910.134(c)(1)(ii) with 1 citation.
1
1910.134 citations in Vermont construction, FY2025
(c)(1)(ii)
paragraph cited most in Vermont (1 citation)
2.2
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers, all industries, Vermont, 2024 (BLS)
Vermont 29 CFR 1910.134 Enforcement, FY2025
Verified · 2026-08-081
citations of 29 CFR 1910.134 (FY2025)
$2,903
penalties for this standard
1.1%
of the state's 91 construction citations
In FY2025, Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) cited 29 CFR 1910.134 (Respiratory Protection) 1 times on Vermont construction jobsites with $2,903 in penalties for it (current amounts), about 1.1% of every construction citation the state issued that year.
What Vermont's own rule says
Vermont maintains its own permissible exposure limits. The table is titled Table Z-1-A and it carries two sets of columns (transitional limits and final rule limits, with TWA, STEL and ceiling values) the structure of OSHA's 1989 air contaminants rule rather than the current federal Table Z. It is kept current in its own right: the published version is the one updated for silica and beryllium. Because exposure assessment is what decides whether a respirator is needed and which assigned protection factor will serve, the state table is the number a Vermont respiratory program has to work from.
Vermont Permissible Exposure Limits, Table Z-1-AThe duty itself differs from the federal text.
Read in Vermont OSHA (VOSHA)'s own rule text · verified 2026-08-09
Harmful exposures and work deaths in Vermont, 2024
Vermont recorded 8 fatal work injuries in 2024, down from 16 in 2023. Exposure to harmful substances or environments caused 2 of them (25%). Construction accounted for 1.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Vermont, 2024
How Vermont Enforces 29 CFR 1910.134
Vermont runs an OSHA-approved State Plan administered by Vermont OSHA (VOSHA), which covers private-sector construction. Its compliance officers enforce Vermont's own standards, which must be at least as effective as federal OSHA's and may go further. On this subject the rule is Vermont Permissible Exposure Limits, Table Z-1-A, which differs from the federal text (see the state rule above). Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) cited 29 CFR 1910.134 1 time in Vermont construction in FY2025 (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards). Vermont sets its own civil-penalty maximums under 21 V.S.A. §210.
In Vermont, the FY2025 citations under 29 CFR 1910.134 went most often to Drywall and Insulation Contractors (1). A single inspection can produce several per-instance citations. Recurring self-audits against Vermont Permissible Exposure Limits, Table Z-1-A, before an officer arrives, are the most reliable defense.
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Help and oversight in Vermont
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In Vermont, the program is Project WorkSAFE (Vermont Department of Labor). 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.
Read on osha.gov and the state's official statute site, September 26, 2026.
Federal Penalty Amounts, for Reference (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) |
Vermont sets its own maximums under 21 V.S.A. §210. The amounts written into the statute are the federal 2017 base (willful or repeat not more than $126,749 and not less than $5,000; serious and other-than-serious up to $12,675; failure to abate up to $12,675 for each day it continues; posting up to $12,675), and §210(a)(9) has the Commissioner adjust them on the CPI-U and publish the result on or before January 1 each year. The latest table on VOSHA's penalty page (read October 2, 2026) is its 2024 adjustment, effective February 1, 2024: serious up to $16,131 and willful up to $161,323. The page shows no 2025 or 2026 table, so the federal maximums shown here are the upper bound a Vermont employer should plan against. Whatever the year's figure, §210(a)(4) sets failure to abate at the serious rate per day, not at the willful ceiling. Amounts are ceilings per violation. Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) computes proposed penalties under its own State Plan procedures.
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 Vermont: Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) inspects private employers, construction included, under an OSHA-approved State Plan. Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) can add requirements beyond the federal standard above, so check its own rules as well.
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 Vermont, FY2025
Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) issued 1 citation under 29 CFR 1910.134 to Vermont construction employers in FY2025. The paragraphs cited most, with the official text. A serious violation carries up to $16,550.
- 1
1910.134(c)(1)(ii) 1 citation
“Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators;”
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
Vermont Safety & Enforcement Profile
91
FY2025 construction citations
Vermont OSHA (VOSHA)
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in Vermont, FY2025: Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (13), Roofing Contractors (7) and Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (5), out of 57 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Cited most under 29 CFR 1910.134 in Vermont, FY2025: Drywall and Insulation Contractors (1), of 1 citations.
- Fatal injury rate in Vermont, 2024: 2.2 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 Vermont
What are the penalties for 29 CFR 1910.134 violations in Vermont in 2026?
Vermont sets its own maximums under 21 V.S.A. §210. The amounts written into the statute are the federal 2017 base (willful or repeat not more than $126,749 and not less than $5,000; serious and other-than-serious up to $12,675; failure to abate up to $12,675 for each day it continues; posting up to $12,675), and §210(a)(9) has the Commissioner adjust them on the CPI-U and publish the result on or before January 1 each year. The latest table on VOSHA's penalty page (read October 2, 2026) is its 2024 adjustment, effective February 1, 2024: serious up to $16,131 and willful up to $161,323. The page shows no 2025 or 2026 table, so the federal maximums shown here are the upper bound a Vermont employer should plan against. Whatever the year's figure, §210(a)(4) sets failure to abate at the serious rate per day, not at the willful ceiling. For reference, the federal maximums are $16,550 for a serious violation and $165,514 for a willful or repeat violation. Each distinct violation can be cited as its own item. (Source: 21 V.S.A. §210; 29 CFR 1903.15(d); verified 2026-10-05.)
Which Vermont construction trades are cited most under Respiratory Protection?
In FY2025, Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) issued 1 citations under 29 CFR 1910.134 to Vermont construction employers, most often to Drywall and Insulation Contractors (1) (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data, by the cited employer's NAICS industry). Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) inspects these employers directly and may apply requirements beyond the federal standard. For context, Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) issued 91 construction citations across 31 inspections in FY2025. Companies in these trades should self-audit against Vermont Permissible Exposure Limits, Table Z-1-A, Vermont's own rule on this subject.
How often is Respiratory Protection cited on Vermont jobsites?
In FY2025, Vermont's state plan (Vermont OSHA (VOSHA)) issued 91 construction citations across 31 inspections (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23). Respiratory Protection can be cited during any of them: programmed, complaint-driven or post-accident. Vermont's fatality figures are shown above.
Does VOSHA require respirator fit-testing in Vermont?
Yes. Under 29 CFR 1910.134, any worker required to wear a tight-fitting respirator must pass a fit-test before first use and at least annually, plus a medical evaluation and training. VOSHA, the state's own program, enforces this in Vermont.
Who enforces respiratory protection (1910.134) in Vermont?
VOSHA, the Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration, run jointly by the Departments of Labor and Health. Vermont runs a full OSHA-approved State Plan, so a state compliance officer inspects and cites 1910.134 in general industry and construction.
Can I get free OSHA help in Vermont without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in Vermont is Project WorkSAFE (Vermont Department of Labor). 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 Vermont cite 29 CFR 1910.134 in construction?
In FY2025, Vermont OSHA (VOSHA) cited 29 CFR 1910.134 (Respiratory Protection) 1 times on Vermont construction jobsites, with $2,903 in penalties for that standard alone (current amounts), about 1.1% of the 91 construction citations the state issued that year. (Source: OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23; verified 2026-08-08.)
Respiratory Protection Guides & Resources
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Related standards
Respiratory Protection in Other States
13 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 Vermont
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, federal maximum
$16,550
per violation (max)
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