Workers can now use modern respirators to protect against inorganic arsenic

The US Labor Department is updating its rules for respirators used to protect against inorganic arsenic. This means workers can now use newer, more effective types of respirators that meet current safety standards.

For decades, specific rules about inorganic arsenic forced workers to use outdated respirator models, even when better technology existed. This change means employers can now use any respirator approved by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, as long as it meets the general respiratory protection standard. This brings the arsenic rules in line with other chemical safety standards.