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Perforated eardrums and SCBA in hydrogen sulfide

Summary An OSHA regional office asked whether workers with perforated eardrums could use positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus around hydrogen sulfide. OSHA’s medical office said the condition alone was not a barrier to wearing the respirator absent infection, after a proper medical examination. It advised against work in an immediately dangerous hydrogen sulfide atmosphere because of possible absorption through the eardrum.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1984-05-14
Date issued
May 14, 1984
Status
Active
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 Respiratory Protection
Source
View the official document

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About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

May 14, 1984

MEMORANDUM FOR: BYRON R. CHADWICH
Regional Administrator
THRU: JOHN B. MILES, JR., Director
Directorate of Field Operations
EDWARD J. BAIER, Director
Directorate of Technical Support
FROM: RALPH E. YODAIKEN, M.D., Director
Office of Occupational Medicine
SUBJECT: Medical Interpretation - H2S and Respiratory Protection

In our opinion a perforated eardrum is not an impediment to wearing a SCBA positive pressure unless there is fluid behind the ear or other signs of an infection. This implies a proper medical examination by an experienced physician or an ENT specialist before use of the respirator.
However, working in a toxic environment with a perforated eardrum is contraindicated because of the possibility of direct absorption through the perforated drum so certainly we agree with the University of Texas that persons with perforated drums should not be in IDLH (H2S) situations. In fact it seems possible, although we have no confirmation, that the positive pressure may increase the possibility of increased absorption.

[Requesting regional memorandum reproduced on OSHA page; omitted here.]

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