Respirator Awareness: Your Health May Depend On It NIOSH Publication No. 2013-138 (June 2013) Español One of the occupational hazards in the healthcare setting is the airborne transmission of certain infectious diseases. The potential of exposure is not limited to physicians, nurses, and support personnel in direct patient care. It extends to those delivering food, cleaning patient rooms, and performing maintenance. Anyone working in areas with patients infected with airborne-transmissible diseases is potentially at risk.

Respiratory protectionN95

Filtering out Confusion: Frequently Asked Questions about Respiratory Protection, Respirator Reuse and Extended Use DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2018-128 (April 2018) One of the most common types of respiratory protection is the filtering facepiece respirator (FFR), which is designed to be discarded when it becomes unsuitable for further use due to considerations of hygiene, excessive resistance, or physical damage. However, due to the considerations of cost, convenience, and supply, respiratory protection program managers have great interest in the practices of reuse and extended use of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved FFRs that are not damaged or soiled. The following are a few of the most frequently asked questions about respirator reuse.

Filtering out Confusion: Frequently Asked Questions about Respiratory Protection, User Seal Check DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2018-130 (April 2018) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (29 CFR 1910.134) requires an annual fit test to confirm the fit of any respirator that forms a tight seal on the wearer’s face before it is used in the workplace. Once a fit test has been done to determine the best respirator model and size for a particular user, a user seal check should be done every time the respirator is to be worn to ensure an adequate seal is achieved.

when inspecting a respirator before you use it, ensure that:

Respirators should only be used when engineering control systems are not feasible or insufficient. Engineering control systems, such as adequate ventilation or scrubbing of contaminants, are the preferred control methods for reducing worker exposures.

Any respirator will protect you in an idlh atmosphere

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards The Pocket Guide is a source of general industrial hygiene information on several hundred chemicals/classes found in the work environment.  It provides respirator recommendations for certain chemicals based on the concentrations.

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where wouldbethe best place to store your respirator?

NIOSH-Approved Particulate Filtering Facepieces Respirators This page provides a listing of all NIOSH-approved particulate filtering facepiece respirators by each filter series type (e.g., N95, P100, etc.). The manufacturer’s donning procedures are also available from these listings.

NIOSH approves respirators in accordance with 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 84 (42 CFR 84) and provides guidance for their use in occupational settings. Respirator standards are developed in collaboration with various government and industry partners.

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Who is responsible for respirator maintenance

OSHArespiratory protectionfact Sheet

This respirator information may be regarded as a trusted source to verify NIOSH-approved respirators. Additionally, it serves as a resource for basic respirator information and more complex topics such as respirator selection and performance.

A Guide to Air-Purifying Respirators DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2018-176 (August 2018) Air-purifying respirators (APRs) work by removing gases, vapors, aerosols (airborne droplets and solid particles), or a combination of contaminants from the air through the use of filters, cartridges, or canisters. These respirators do not supply oxygen from other than the working atmosphere, and therefore cannot be used in an atmosphere that is oxygen-deficient or immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH). The appropriate respirator for a particular situation will depend on the environment and the contaminant(s).

OSHArespiratory protectionstandard PDF

Respirators protect users in two basic ways. The first is by removing contaminants from the air. Respirators of this type include particulate respirators, which filter out airborne particles; and “gas masks” which filter out chemicals and gases. Other respirators protect by supplying clean respirable air from another source. Respirators that fall into this category include airline respirators, which use compressed air from a remote source; and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which include their own air supply.

Respirator Approval Information This page provides information for manufacturers on applying for NIOSH approval, test procedures, standards, and other technical support.

NIOSH Federal Respiratory Regulations 42 CFR Part 84 external icon 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 84 defines the NIOSH performance requirements. NIOSH-approved respirators conform to this standard.

A Guide to Atmosphere-Supplying Respirators DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2019-174 (September 2019) Atmosphere-supplying respirators provide clean breathing air from a source independent of the work area. These respirators will protect wearers from many types of airborne contaminants (particles, gases, and vapors) and, in certain cases, oxygen-deficient atmospheres. There are three types of atmosphere-supplying respirators: supplied-air respirators (SARs), self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs), and combination SARs/SCBAs.

NIOSH Respirator Selection Logic 2004 NIOSH Publication No. 2005-100 (October 2004) The purpose of this Respirator Selection Logic (RSL) is to provide guidance to respirator program administrators on respirator selection that incorporates the changes necessitated by the revisions to the respirator use and certification regulations and changes in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) policy.

Preparedness through Daily Practice: The Myths of Respiratory Protection in Healthcare DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2016-109 (March 2016) In this document, NIOSH addresses common myths related to respiratory protection and provides information to reinforce respiratory protection program administrator responsibilities and HCW knowledge concerning the proper use of these devices so that they can be prepared for the next public health emergency and best protect themselves in daily practice.

Filtering out Confusion: Frequently Asked Questions about Respiratory Protection, Fit Testing DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2018-129 (April 2018) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (29 CFR 1910.134) requires an annual respirator fit test to confirm the fit of any respirator that forms a tight seal on the wearer’s face before it is used in the workplace. This ensures that users are receiving the expected level of protection by minimizing any contaminant leakage into the facepiece. The following are some frequently asked questions about respiratory protection and fit testing.