RESPIRATOR
MEQ
Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire
OSHA-Required Respirator Evaluation
Starting at
Page Sections
UNDERSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT
What is an rMEQ?
An OSHA-mandated evaluation that identifies medical conditions that could impair respirator use or put workers at risk.
The Definition
A Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire is a critical requirement of OSHA's respiratory protection standard (1910.134) that determines if an employee can safely wear respiratory protection.
The Purpose
To ensure worker safety before respirator use and exposure to respiratory hazards
Who Needs It
Anyone using respiratory protection as part of their job
TRADITIONAL APPROACH
The Challenge
How do you efficiently manage rMEQs at scale while maintaining medical accuracy and OSHA compliance?
Traditional clinic-based approaches create bottlenecks, delays, and significant costs for organizations with large workforces.
TRADITIONAL
Clinic Method
2-3 hour clinic visits
Massive productivity loss
2-7 day wait times
Delayed work clearance
$125-158 total cost per evaluation
High direct costs
Manual paperwork
Administrative burden
Unnecessary referrals
False positives increase costs
PROXIMA
Platform Solution
20-minute digital evaluation
Complete anywhere, anytime
Instant results
Immediate work clearance
$32 per evaluation
42% cost reduction
Automated documentation
Zero manual paperwork
Adaptive questioning
Eliminates false positives
Both methods meet OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 requirements with qualified PLHCP review
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
The Answer
Proxima Protection Platform transforms rMEQ delivery
Our solution combines medical expertise with cutting-edge technology to deliver scalable, compliant, and efficient respirator medical evaluations.
Led by Dr. Bill Martin
Chief Medical Officer & Occupational Medicine Expert
Our platform is medically directed by Dr. Bill Martin, Proxima's Chief Medical Officer and a dual-trained Occupational Medicine and Clinical Informatics physician. His extensive experience in occupational health, respiratory protection, and digital health solutions ensures our rMEQ platform meets the highest medical and regulatory standards.
Medical Excellence
Chief Medical Officer at Proxima & Global Medical Director for Fortune 500 companies
Dual MD/MBA with specialized training in Occupational & Environmental Medicine
US Navy Senior Medical Officer with overseas deployment experience
Published researcher in Occupational Allergies, Asthma, Laboratory Animal Allergy, and Ground Cannabis Dust
Registered Medical Review Officer (MRO) and CAOHC Professional Supervisor
Duke University residency in Occupational Medicine & Clinical Informatics (MMCi)
Why Choose Proxima
Medical Excellence
All occupational health services directed by Dr. Bill Martin, published and experienced licensed Occupational Medicine specialist, ensuring advanced clinical methodology.
Instant Compliance
OSHA-compliant solutions with centralized and automated documentation in an audit-ready platform.
Enterprise Scale
Scales from 10 to 10,000+ employees seamlessly
Digital Transformation
Replace 3-hour clinic visits with 20-minute evaluations
Immediate ROI
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
OSHA Complexity
Why organizations struggle with rMEQ compliance: navigating 8 detailed OSHA requirements
Each regulation demands specific processes, documentation, and medical oversight. This complexity is exactly why Proxima's simplified platform is essential for enterprise compliance.
01Medical Evaluation Required
The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace.
Medical Evaluation Required
The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace.
Proxima Solution
Our PLHCP-reviewed digital questionnaire meets this requirement. We provide direct physician involvement and oversight. Employees completing Dr. Martin's form receive an in-depth, real-time, algorithmic interview. Based on the results of the interview, Dr. Martin and his team may review the questionnaire, and may even perform a phone interview when necessary.
02PLHCP and Evaluation Methods
The employer shall identify a physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP) to perform medical evaluations using a medical questionnaire or an initial medical examination.
PLHCP and Evaluation Methods
The employer shall identify a physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP) to perform medical evaluations using a medical questionnaire or an initial medical examination.
Proxima Solution
Dr. Martin and his team of licensed providers provide evaluations through our comprehensive digital questionnaire and phone interview process, which obtains far more information than the required questionnaire.
03Mandatory Questionnaire Content
The medical evaluation shall obtain the information requested by the questionnaire in Sections 1 and 2, part A of appendix C of this section.
Mandatory Questionnaire Content
The medical evaluation shall obtain the information requested by the questionnaire in Sections 1 and 2, part A of appendix C of this section.
Proxima Solution
Our questionnaire includes all mandatory OSHA Appendix C questions plus adaptive follow-ups based on employee responses.
04Follow-up Medical Examination
The employer shall ensure that a follow-up medical examination is provided for an employee who gives a positive response to any question among questions 1 through 8 in Section 2, part A of appendix C.
Follow-up Medical Examination
The employer shall ensure that a follow-up medical examination is provided for an employee who gives a positive response to any question among questions 1 through 8 in Section 2, part A of appendix C.
Proxima Solution
Proxima's real-time algorithmic review and phone interview process, when necessary, provide simplified and cost-effective follow-ups to the base question set, reducing the need for deferrals dramatically.
05Confidential Administration
The medical questionnaire and examinations shall be administered confidentially during the employee's normal working hours or at a convenient time and place.
Confidential Administration
The medical questionnaire and examinations shall be administered confidentially during the employee's normal working hours or at a convenient time and place.
Proxima Solution
Our secure platform enables confidential completion on any device, allowing employees to complete evaluations at convenient times while maintaining enterprise-grade security.
06Information Provided to PLHCP
The employer must provide the PLHCP with information about respirator type, workplace conditions, temperature/humidity extremes, and the respiratory protection program.
Information Provided to PLHCP
The employer must provide the PLHCP with information about respirator type, workplace conditions, temperature/humidity extremes, and the respiratory protection program.
Proxima Solution
Our platform automatically provides PLHCPs with comprehensive workplace and respirator information, ensuring informed medical decisions.
07Written Medical Determination
The employer shall obtain a written recommendation regarding the employee's ability to use the respirator from the PLHCP.
Written Medical Determination
The employer shall obtain a written recommendation regarding the employee's ability to use the respirator from the PLHCP.
Proxima Solution
PLHCPs provide written recommendations through our platform, with automated generation of written determinations.
08Additional Medical Evaluations
Additional medical evaluations must be provided when an employee reports medical signs or symptoms related to respirator use, when a PLHCP or program administrator informs the employer of the need, or when required by the standard.
Additional Medical Evaluations
Additional medical evaluations must be provided when an employee reports medical signs or symptoms related to respirator use, when a PLHCP or program administrator informs the employer of the need, or when required by the standard.
Proxima Solution
Employees can complete a new rMEQ at any time without scheduling or planning.
MEDICAL EXPERTISE
Physician-Level Assessment
Why medical evaluations require specialized expertise: 4-step physician-led assessment process
Each evaluation demands medical judgment, regulatory knowledge, and comprehensive health assessment. Our platform brings this physician-level expertise to every digital evaluation.
Dr. Bill Martin, Chief Medical Officer
Board-certified physician providing medical direction for all respiratory evaluations, ensuring each assessment meets the highest clinical standards for occupational health protection.
Clinical Assessment
Comprehensive health history review identifying conditions that may impair respirator use or worsen with breathing resistance
OSHA Compliance
Expert knowledge of 29 CFR 1910.134 requirements ensuring medical evaluations meet federal regulatory standards for comprehensive respiratory protection programs
Evidence-Based Protocol
Research-driven medical protocols incorporating latest occupational health findings and clinical best practices
OSHA Appendix C - Mandatory Questionnaire
All medical evaluations must obtain information specified in OSHA Appendix C, which contains mandatory questions covering employee health history and current status.
Employee Information
Critical Health Screening
Respiratory Health History
Work Environment Assessment
Medical Record Requirements
OSHA requires employers to maintain medical evaluation records according to 29 CFR 1910.1020 standards.
Medical evaluations must be retained for duration of employment plus 30 years
Records must be made available to employees and OSHA upon request
Employee access to their own medical records must be provided within 15 working days
Transfer or disposal of records must follow specific OSHA procedures