Workers can use more types of respirators against ethylene oxide

The US Labor Department is changing its rules for respirators used against ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing gas. This means workers can now use a wider range of protective masks, aligning with broader safety standards.

For years, specific rules limited the types of respirators workers could use against ethylene oxide, even if newer, equally effective models existed. This change means companies can use modern safety equipment, potentially making compliance easier and cheaper. It also means workers might have access to more comfortable or better-fitting respirators, which could improve actual usage and protection.