Re:Respirators
I use them all the time. Trouble is that you need to have a OSHA approved plan in place that conforms to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 (among all the other OSHA regulations in both 1910 and 1926 and 40 CFR) you need fit testing and employee medical monitoring. You can't legally hand someone a half face dual cartridge respirator without any training or fit-testing. YOU become liable for their health in some cases FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
(Remember 9/11 and the World Trade Center??? Cleaning contractors had all sorts of regulations to follow)
If the work is using anything or releasing anything that has a toxicity rating or a health hazard rating, you will need to have an approved plan of how to provide PPE (personal protective equipment) and training your technicians in how to keep safe and get the job done. Sounds complicated, but it can be done, some of the training can even be done online during off-hours.
This could be in addition to doing things like cleaning a permit entry confined space containing any type of toxic or hazardous material.
The initial set up is a killer, but having an approved program in place can put you in a "whole different league" when it comes to bidding on and getting new contracts.
Hope I haven't gotten too "wordy", but I am exposed to this crap daily and don't want to see anyone have their life or business suffer because they didn't know or care.
Rich