Construction Respirator Compliance for Jobsites
Silica dust medical evaluations, multi-site coordination, and mobile-ready compliance for construction workers. OSHA 1926.1153 + 1910.134 compliant.
Built for Construction Companies
- OSHA 1926.1153 silica dust compliant
- Mobile-friendly for jobsite workers
- No clinic visits or downtime
- Multi-jobsite management dashboard
- 30-year digital record retention
Construction Respirator Compliance Challenges
Construction companies face unique respirator compliance challenges: workers spread across multiple jobsites, silica dust exposure from cutting/grinding concrete, variable work schedules, and the logistical nightmare of getting field workers to occupational health clinics.
❌ Traditional Clinic Approach Fails Construction
- Workers Scattered Across Jobsites
Getting 50 workers from 8 different sites to a single clinic location is nearly impossible
- Billable Hours Lost
Each clinic visit costs 3-4 hours of lost productivity: travel, waiting, appointment time
- Variable Work Schedules
Field workers start early, finish late—clinic hours (9am-5pm) require mid-day departures
- Multi-State Projects
Workers on jobs across state lines need local clinics in every location
- OSHA Silica Violations
2024 data: Construction accounts for 67% of OSHA silica dust citations ($16,131 per violation)
- New Hire Delays
Workers can't start jobs requiring respirators until clinic clearance (often 1-2 week wait)
✅ Mobile Online Evaluation Solution
- Workers Complete On-Site or At Home
15-minute smartphone evaluation—no travel, no appointments, no coordination needed
- Zero Billable Hours Lost
Complete during lunch break, after hours, or weekends—never during billable time
- Works for Any Schedule
Available 24/7—early morning, late night, weekends. Auto-saves progress if interrupted
- Single Solution Nationwide
Same process for workers in California, Texas, Florida—no local clinic coordination
- Full OSHA Silica Compliance
Meets OSHA 1926.1153(f)(1)(i) medical evaluation requirements for silica exposure
- Same-Day New Hire Clearance
Workers cleared to start jobs immediately—no 1-2 week clinic wait times
OSHA Silica Dust Respirator Requirements (1926.1153)
Construction workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica (concrete cutting, grinding, jackhammering, sandblasting) must have medical evaluations before using respirators. For a comprehensive breakdown, see our complete construction respirator requirements guide. Here's what OSHA requires:
Common Silica Exposure Tasks
- Concrete & Masonry Work
Cutting, grinding, drilling concrete or brick with power tools
- Jackhammering & Chipping
Breaking up concrete, demolition work, roadwork
- Sandblasting & Abrasive Blasting
Surface preparation, paint removal, cleaning
- Rock/Stone Drilling
Tunnel construction, mining, excavation work
- Mortar Mixing & Tuckpointing
Working with silica-containing materials
Medical Evaluation Requirements
- Before Respirator Use
Must be completed BEFORE worker uses respirator on any jobsite
- PLHCP Review Required
Licensed physician or healthcare professional must review all questionnaires
- OSHA Appendix C Questionnaire
Mandatory medical questionnaire covering respiratory/cardiovascular health
- Annual Re-Evaluation
Industry best practice: re-evaluate workers annually
- Record Retention
Medical records must be maintained for duration of employment + 30 years
Construction Company Cost Comparison
Real costs for annual medical evaluations across different company sizes:
| Company Size | Workers w/ Respirators | Clinic Cost (Annual) | Online Cost (Annual) | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Contractor | 15 workers | $3,750 ($250/each) | $330 ($22/each) | $3,420 (91%) |
| Mid-Size Company | 75 workers | $18,750 | $1,650 | $17,100 (91%) |
| Large Contractor | 200 workers | $50,000 | $4,400 | $45,600 (91%) |
| Regional Company | 500 workers | $125,000 | $8,500 (volume pricing) | $116,500 (93%) |
💰 Hidden Costs of Clinic Visits for Construction
Lost Billable Hours:
- Travel Time (1-2 hours)
Workers driving from jobsites to clinics, often across town or in different cities
- Clinic Wait Time (30-90 minutes)
Occupational health clinics often overbooked, long wait times common
- Appointment Time (30-45 minutes)
Actual medical evaluation duration plus paperwork
- Total: 3-4 hours × $45/hour = $135-180 lost revenue per worker
Plus worker's hourly wage ($25-35/hour) = $75-140 additional cost
Project Delays & Coordination:
- Multi-Site Scheduling Chaos
Coordinating clinic appointments for workers across 5-10 active jobsites
- New Hire Bottleneck
Projects delayed 1-2 weeks waiting for new workers to get clinic clearance
- OSHA Citation Risk
$16,131 per worker found working without valid medical clearance
- Administrative Overhead
Safety manager spends 10-15 hours/month coordinating clinic appointments
Multi-Jobsite Compliance Management
Centralized Dashboard
Manage workers across all jobsites from one dashboard. Filter by project, location, or trade. Export compliance reports by jobsite for OSHA inspections.
Real-time compliance status
Mobile-First Design
Workers complete evaluations on smartphones—no computer needed. Auto-save progress if interrupted by job duties. Works offline, syncs when connected.
15-minute completion time
Volume Pricing
Construction companies with 100+ workers qualify for volume discounts. Single invoice for all jobsites—simplifies billing and accounting.
From $17/worker
Regional Concrete Company: 180 Workers, 12 Active Jobsites
The Challenge:
A regional concrete contractor with 180 workers across 12 active jobsites in 3 states. Work includes concrete cutting, grinding, and demolition—all high silica exposure tasks requiring respirators. Previous process: workers scheduled clinic appointments during work hours, traveling 15-60 minutes each way.
Annual cost: $45,000 (evaluation fees) + $32,000 (lost billable hours) = $77,000 total. OSHA inspection in 2023 found 8 workers with expired clearances, resulting in $129,000 in citations.
The Solution:
Switched to RespiratorTest.com for all medical evaluations. Workers complete evaluations on smartphones during lunch breaks or after hours. New hires cleared same day they're hired—can start jobs immediately.
Results After 12 Months:
- $72,040 annual savings
93% reduction: $4,960 online cost vs $77,000 previous total cost
- Zero OSHA citations
100% compliance—all 180 workers current with automated renewal reminders
- New hire productivity gain
Workers start jobs immediately vs 1-2 week clinic wait—gained 240 billable hours
- Multi-state simplification
Single platform for all locations—no more coordinating clinics in 3 states
- Safety manager time saved
15 hours/month saved (previously coordinating clinic appointments)
"Our workers love it—15 minutes on their phone vs half a day at a clinic. We're saving over $70,000 per year and our OSHA compliance has never been better. Best safety investment we've made."
— Mike Thompson
Safety Director, Regional Concrete Solutions
How It Works for Construction Companies
Send Evaluation Links
Upload worker list or send individual invites via email/text. Workers access on any smartphone.
Workers Complete in 15 Min
OSHA Appendix C questionnaire on phone. During lunch, after work, or weekends—no job interruption.
PLHCP Review (24 hrs)
Licensed MD reviews questionnaire. 98% approved instantly, 2% require follow-up.
Digital Certificates
Instant download, 30-year cloud storage. Worker cleared to use respirator on any jobsite.
Construction Compliance FAQs
Are online medical evaluations OSHA compliant for silica dust exposure?
Yes. OSHA 1926.1153(f)(1)(i) requires medical evaluations before respirator use but does not mandate in-person exams. Online evaluations using OSHA Appendix C and reviewed by a PLHCP meet all requirements. RespiratorTest.com has been accepted in 500+ construction company OSHA inspections with zero deficiencies.
Can workers complete evaluations on jobsites without WiFi?
Yes. The evaluation works on smartphones using cellular data (4G/5G). Workers can also start the evaluation offline and submit when they have connectivity—progress auto-saves. Most workers complete during lunch breaks or after hours when they have WiFi access.
How do I manage workers across multiple jobsites and states?
Your admin dashboard shows all workers across all locations. Filter by jobsite, state, or project number. Bulk upload workers with jobsite assignments. Generate OSHA compliance reports by location for inspections. Single billing invoice for all sites. Multi-location management guide: see our enterprise guide.
What if a worker doesn't have a smartphone?
Workers can complete evaluations on any device: tablet, laptop, desktop computer. They can also use a supervisor's phone or tablet—each worker gets a unique access link. The evaluation saves progress, so they can switch devices if needed. About 95% of construction workers complete on their personal smartphones.
Do you provide fit testing or just medical evaluations?
We provide medical evaluations only (OSHA 1910.134(e)). Fit testing (OSHA 1910.134(f)) must still be performed annually—typically done on-site by safety managers or third-party testing companies. Medical evaluation must be completed BEFORE fit testing. Read: fit testing vs medical evaluation explained.
What happens during an OSHA inspection?
OSHA will ask to see medical evaluation records for workers using respirators. Log into your dashboard, generate a compliance report (60 seconds), and provide digital certificates showing current clearances for all workers. Inspectors accept our digital certificates—they include PLHCP credentials, evaluation date, expiration date, and OSHA Appendix C confirmation. Keep 30-year records automatically maintained in cloud storage.
Ready to Simplify Construction Respirator Compliance?
Join 500+ construction companies saving 91% on medical evaluations while maintaining full OSHA silica dust compliance.
Questions? Contact us or call (866) 898-0484