OSHA proposes Cotton Dust standard revisions referencing alignment to NIOSH respirator certification criteria in 42 CFR Part 84 (comments due Sept. 2, 2025)

OSHA published a proposed rule (Cotton Dust) that includes proposed updates to respirator-related provisions and explicitly references aligning respirator requirements with NIOSH respirator certification criteria in 42 CFR Part 84 (reflecting updated NIOSH respirator technology and replacing outdated references). Although this is an OSHA proposal, it is directly relevant to NIOSH because it relies on NIOSH’s certification framework for respirators and could affect how NIOSH-certified respirators are referenced/required in OSHA compliance. Stakeholders should review the proposal and consider submitting comments by the stated deadline.