FFRs are certified by NIOSH under the 42 CFR 84 respirator certification tests. Certification is no guarantee that the mask will perform well as worn. In one study of FFRs [CDC 1998], the aver­age dust reduction was only 67%.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing silicosis. [topic page] U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Centers for Disease Control. https://www.cdc.gov/features/preventing-silicosis/index.html

The dust (or mist) collection efficiency of filter materials also varies. Filter cartridges are available in three efficiency levels: 95%, 99%, and 99.97%, designated as 95, 99, and 100. For example, an N95 filter is 95% efficient; an N99 filter is 99% efficient; and an N100 filter is 99.97% efficient.

Selecting the right air-purifying respirator requires an assessment of workplace operations, processes or environments that may create a respiratory hazard [NIOSH 2019].

NIOSH sets Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs), including a suggested limit of exposure to silica dust. A recent study of workers exposed to silica dust by industry published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine found that of 100,000 workers who were exposed above the NIOSH REL, 8 out of 10 of those workers were in the construction industry [Doney et al. 2020].

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ISHN [2017]. ANSI/ASSE Z88.2 – 2015 practices for respiratory protection. Industrial Safety and Hygiene News. 2017, January. https://www.ishn.com/articles/105561-ansiasse-z882-2015-practices-for-respiratory-protection

Doney BC, Miller WE, Hale JM, Syamlal G. Estimation of the number of workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica by industry: Analysis of OSHA compliance data (1979‐2015). Am J Ind Med. 2020;63:465–477. DOI:10.1002/ajim.23109

For Olympic sports, this means that it could become possible to generate, for instance, an Olympic stadium on your training ground to simulate this important competition in everyday training. This can be regarded as competition preparation as close as possible. Auditory features such as crowd noise can also easily be implemented and serve as realistic characteristics. To exemplify, a track and field athlete could simulate the Olympic 100 meters sprint race by generating the relevant stadium virtually and running on a real-world track. However, not only the run itself can be used for preparation, but also the time before and after it. Imaginative scenarios and routines can be played through and serve as mental repetitions of possible real-life outcomes.For high-precision sports, VR can serve as a tool to practice massive repetition of actual movement patterns in a virtual environment with minimal physical demands. For instance, tennis serves, soccer free-kicks, baseball batting, and archery would count to such highly repeatable tasks. No training tool is needed besides the VR hard- and software itself. This makes precision training highly mobile and eliminates the requirement of always carrying your training gear with you and being dependent on the facilities the athletes reside in. Basketball, archery, golf, shooting, squash, tennis, etc. could largely benefit from this possibility of applying VR in that literally carrying your training gear and environment with you and having the opportunity to get realistic extra-repetitions is highly economical and only minimally physically demanding.Concerning more domain-general psychological skills, VR offers the training of several mental abilities or strategies that are required for an outstanding performance in Olympic athletes. Learning to perform under pressure, handling pre-performance anxiety, practicing routines, stress management, and regulating emotions, among others can be practiced using VR devices through commercially available software and self-made 360° videos.Regarding rehabilitation of injured athletes, VR offers various opportunities for sport-specific (cognitive) skills training and stress reduction [12]. This can be done with only minimal physical demands. For instance, coaches could use stationary sport simulations, reaction time/decision making drills, or VR-guided mindfulness apps to minimize the movement required from the actors but to preserve their abilities and keep them connected to their sport. Therefore, VR can be implemented in rehabilitation schedules as a riskless alternative compared to learning, practice, and rehearsal of sports activities in real-life.Lastly, for teams and coaches scattered around the globe, it could be interesting to have team meetings in the “metaverse”. This could be particularly relevant in the context of limited accreditation places for coaching staff at the Olympic Games. Using avatars and simulated meeting rooms would be an interesting experiment for teams to try and seek out potential benefits over conventional video calls in terms of interacting with each other and having a sense of “really being there together”.

The advent of virtual reality technology provides Olympic athletes and coaches with manifold new possibilities for training and competition preparation. Although promising and increasingly backed up by scientific research, it is important to be aware of the limitations and potential pitfalls of applying this new technology to the sports domain.

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[8] B. R. Fajen, G. Díaz and C. M. Cramer, “Reconsidering the role of movement in perceiving action-scaled affordances,” Human Movement Science, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 504–533, 2011, doi:10.1016/j.humov.2010.07.016.

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I wanted to reach out because I noticed you posted an awesome article. I’m glad to see that someone else in the industry is passionate about safety like me!

WHS safety signs and their meanings · Mandatory signs · Prohibition signs · Warning signs · Danger signs · Fire safety signs · Emergency information · Restriction.

[15] B. Marshall, L. Uiga, J. V. V. Parr and G. Wood, “A preliminary investigation into the efficacy of training soccer heading in immersive virtual reality,” Virtual Reality, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 2397–2404, 2023, doi:10.1007/s10055-023-00807-x.

Construction companies should be mindful of their frameworks, to stay away from dangers and have the option to contact proficient assistance before things deteriorate. A debt of gratitude is in order for this article!

Comments listed below are posted by individuals not associated with CDC, unless otherwise stated. These comments do not represent the official views of CDC, and CDC does not guarantee that any information posted by individuals on this site is correct, and disclaims any liability for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. Read more about our comment policy ».

Respirator wearers should follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Comfort is as important as a tight seal. A worker may need to try different size respira­tors or respirators from different manufacturers before finding the best fit for his or her facial structure. Once a respirator is put on, positive and negative pressure seal checks are necessary to ensure there are no leaks that would degrade the respirator’s effectiveness.

In sum, VR training enables athletes of various Olympic sports to engage in learning, practice, and rehearsal that in real life can be physically demanding, dangerous, impractical, or otherwise expensive (with respect to human, technical, or temporal resources). We outlined that this new technology comes with many promising possibilities for Olympic athletes, both presently as well as in the future (e.g., preparing for a competition). Nevertheless, some issues remain that must be considered as potential pitfalls of VR training as of now (e.g., missing haptic feedback). With continuous new developments in this area, however, we are certain that this is just the beginning of sport psychological VR (and MR) research and practice and that there is much more to come in the next few years.

A reusable half-mask, negative-pressure respirator, consists of a filter-holding unit called the facepiece or mask, fabricated from molded plas­tic or rubber. The mask contains intake and exhaust valves and is attached to straps that ensure a tight fit to the wearer’s face.

Christopher Coffey, Ph.D, is the former Associate Director for Science for the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (retired).

Very Informative post! This article has covered all the basic things on respirators used for dust in Construction. Thanks for sharing the good information.

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[6] O. Köyağasıoğlu, C. Özgürbüz, C. Ş. Bediz, Ç. Güdücü, R. Aydınoğlu, T. Akşit, “The Effects of Virtual Reality Nonphysical Mental Training on Balance Skills and Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Activity in Healthy Adults”, Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 428–441, 2022, doi:10.1123/jsr.2021-0197

While construction dust poses real health risks, the construction industry has made important strides in recent years to better protect workers. Strict exposure limits, improved engineering controls, and more widespread use of respirators when needed are helping to significantly reduce illnesses caused by hazardous dust. Companies that follow occupational health guidelines and give worker safety top priority deserve credit for making sites healthier. With proper precautions as outlined by CDC and OSHA, and a commitment to continuous improvement, the industry can continue improving health outcomes. The fact that silicosis rates have declined over the past few decades shows progress is possible. By working together responsibly, companies and policymakers can make construction jobs safer while also allowing important infrastructure work to move forward.

FFRs, commonly called dust masks are another type of negative pressure air purifying respirator. FFRs have a lighter design than half-mask respirators. The entire mask is fabricated from filter material that covers the mouth and nose.

A rugged respirator mask with in-built filters and valves is ideal for automotive or construction work, where the air may be filled with dust, paint, ...

PAPRs are often designed with a hard hat equipped with a battery-powered fan or a belt-worn battery and fan, filtering system, and face visor, thus providing protection for the head, lungs, and eyes and face within one unit. Another advantage is a lack of breathing resistance. Loose-fitting PAPRs have the ability to accommodate facial hair. Tight-fitting facepiece PAPRs are required by OSHA to be fit-tested and worn without facial hair.

[12] M. Weiß, M. Büttner and F. Richlan, “The role of sport Psychology in injury prevention and rehabilitation in junior athletes,” Behavioral Sciences, vol. 14, no. 3, p. 254, 2024, doi:10.3390/bs14030254.

[4] D. Bedir and S. E. Erhan, “The Effect of Virtual Reality Technology on the Imagery Skills and Performance of Target-Based Sports Athletes,” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 11, p. 2073, 2020, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02073

[13] K. Nesbitt and E. Nalivaiko, “Cybersickness,” in Encyclopedia of Computer Graphics and Games, N. Lee, Ed., Springer International Publishing, 2018, pp. 1–6, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-08234-9_252-1.

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Thank you for your inquiry. Yes, one option under consideration would create a permanent PAPR100 class of respirator. The comment period for the interim rule titled “Approval Tests and Standards for Air-Purifying Particulate Respirators” has been extended until September 25th, 2020. If you want NIOSH to consider your ideas and opinions, you can enter a comment in the docket at https://regulations.gov and search on the docket number CDC-2020-0036. After the comment period closes, NIOSH will consider the input received and make a determination on whether a final rule will be published and if so, what if any changes are necessary.

Otherwise, campus police officers are not authorized to act outside their territorial jurisdiction. More than fifteen years ago, in Hall v. Commonwealth, 12 ...

Jeremias Braid is a PhD student at the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience and the Department of Psychology at the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg in...more

For mineral dusts, such as silica, any of these filters will work unless the workplaces has an oil mist source. The most common oil mist sources in construction comes from percussion drills. These workplaces should use type R or P filters. If oil mist is present, N-series filters will not be effective and should not be used. R-series filters should be used for one shift, and P-series filters should be changed in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations [NIOSH 1996].

NIOSH [2019]. Mining Product: Dust Control Handbook for Industrial Minerals Mining and Processing. Second edition. Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2019-124 (RI 9701). https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/works/coversheet2094.html

Several filter materials are available for negative-pressure respirators. Since some fil­ters are degraded by oil mist, replaceable filter cartridges are desig­nated according to their level of oil resis­tance, as follows:

Construction dust can cause serious damage to workers’ health and life-threatening diseases. Construction workers can be exposed to many types of dust, such as silica, wood, and lead dust. Workplace exposure to small particles of silica dust, also known as respirable crystalline silica, can lead to serious diseases, including silicosis, a progressive lung disease marked by scarring and thickening of the lung tissue; lung cancer; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); and kidney disease. It’s estimated that about 2 million construction workers are exposed to silica dust on the job [CDC 2020].

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NIOSH [2018]. Filtering out Confusion: Frequently Asked Questions about Respiratory Protection, Respirator Reuse and Extended Use. By Shamblin M., Krah J., and Shaffer R. Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 2018–128, https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2018128

so far I know the both PAPR100 classes are interim. Is there a plan to evolve and freeze this classes permanently into the NIOSH regulatory standards?

Thank you for this article. I work with many people who are Hispanic and they are afraid to speak up about how much dust they are inhaling. They wear dust masks but those still have big gaps and their noses end up looking gray by the end of the day. They’ve been told they can’t use respirator masks. So now with this information I can show they that they have the right to wear a respirator.

Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) use a fan to draw air through the filter to the user. They are easier to breathe through than negative pressure air purifying respirators; however, they need a fully charged battery to work properly. PAPRs have three filter classes HE, PAPR100-N, and PAPR100-P. All three filter series must demonstrate a minimum efficiency level of 99.97 percent. It is important to know what the hazard is, and how much of it is in the air, to select the proper filters/cartridges.

This Drain Warden is used to help control the area and prevent solids, silt and hydrocarbons from entering stormwater drains and waterways.

[16] J. V. V. Parr, L. Uiga, B. Marshall and G. Wood, “Soccer heading immediately alters brain function and brain-muscle communication,” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, vol. 17, 2023, doi:10.3389/fnhum.2023.1145700.

This type of half-mask respirator has a replaceable-filter that removes dust when the facepiece seal is leak-tight. The seal can occasionally cause skin irritation. These respirators also interfere with conversation and may interfere with eyeglasses or goggles.

Regular replacement of filters is an important part of respirator use. Normally, filters should be replaced when breathing resistance increases and when they are damaged or soiled or at the end of the shift if exposed to oil mists. Another approach is to replace filters when the filter loading reaches 200 mg of dust [NIOSH 2018]. NIOSH has additional guidance on the reuse and extended use of filters: Filtering out Confusion: Frequently Asked Questions about Respiratory Protection, Respirator Reuse and Extended Use.

[14] N. A. Webb and M. J. Griffin, “Eye movement, vection, and motion sickness with foveal and peripheral vision,” Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, vol. 74, no. 6, pp. 622–625, 2003.

This is an explosive idea; this is most probably the best and most successful thing about respirators construction. I love this blog and really happy to come across this exceptionally well written content. Thanks for sharing!!

[11] F. T. J. M. Zaal and C. F. Michaels, “The information for catching fly balls: Judging and intercepting virtual balls in a CAVE. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance,” vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 537–555, 2003, doi:10.1037/0096-1523.29.3.537.

Dr. Fabio Richlan is a certified sport psychologist, research scientist, and lecturer at the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience and the Department of...more

Drones can be used to gain entry, perch, and act as a phone with 2-way communication between officers and a person in crisis to safeguard lives on both sides.

[9] P. W. Fink, P. Foo and W. H. Warren, “Catching fly balls in virtual reality: A critical test of the outfielder problem,” Journal of Vision, vol. 9, no. 13, p. 14, 2009, doi:10.1167/9.13.14.

[1] F. Richlan, M. Weiß, P. Kastner, and J. Braid, “Virtual training, real effects: a narrative review on sports performance enhancement through interventions in virtual reality,” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 14, 2023, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1240790

FFRs offer some advantages compared to the replaceable-filter respirators. In particular, they are more comfortable and require no maintenance. It may be harder to pass a fit test with an FFR than a reusable half-mask. As a result, they are often much less effective than half-masks.

[2] G. Jordet, K. M. Aksum, D. N. Pedersen, A. Walvekar, A. Trivedi, A. McCall, A. Ivarsson and D. Priestley, “Scanning, Contextual Factors, and Association With Performance in English Premier League Footballers: An Investigation Across a Season,” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 11, 2020, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.553813

written by Sylvain Laborde, Stefan Ackermann, Carla Alfonso, Uirassu Borges, Eva Crone, Maša Iskra, Marko Jackovič, Valerie Haydt, Leon Hunder, Rabeea Maqsood, Frederike Midderhoff, Emma Mosley, Denise Paykoç, Caterina Salvotti, Charlotte Sanden, Rebekka Schubert, Maximilian Schmaußer & Laura Voigt

[10] F. T. J. M. Zaal and R. J. Bootsma, “Virtual Reality as a tool for the study of Perception-Action: the case of running to catch fly balls,” Presence: Teleoperators & Virtual Environments, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 93–103, 2011, doi:10.1162/pres_a_00037.

In many cases, engineering controls are not adequate for safely controlling dust, and respi­ra­tors must be used. A respirator is designed to protect workers from inhaling hazardous dusts when properly used. OSHA regulations govern the use of respi­rators in construction [29 CFR 1926.103]. If respirators are used, a respiratory protection program is required to ensure that they are used prop­erly. OSHA mandates specific requirements for the use of respirators [29 CFR 1910.134(c)].

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) silica dust standard for construction requires employers to limit worker exposures to silica dust and protect them [29 CFR 1926.1153]. Table 1 in 29 CFR 1926.1153 has simplified the compliance process in construction by matching 18 common construction tasks with effective dust control methods and respiratory protection. Employers who use the controls specified in Table 1 are in compliance when they perform those tasks. If controls are not being used, or when performing tasks not listed in Table 1, employers are required to conduct air sampling to measure workers’ exposure to silica or obtain objective data to demonstrate that they comply.

Thanks for posting, there are soo many unaware of OSHA silica standard put into place to protect workers. This is very helpful respirator info!

Many construction tasks can expose workers to hazardous dust. Protect your workers by selecting the appropriate respirator for the job and ensure it is used properly according to the manufacturer’s instructions and OSHA’s mandates. Keep your workforce safe and healthy.

Jeremias Braid is a PhD student at the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience and the Department of Psychology at the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg in...more

Basic respirator maintenance is simple. The wearer should check to ensure that the filter cartridges are undamaged, the inhalation and exhalation valves are in work­ing order, no straps are slipping or broken, there are no tears or deformities in the facepiece, and the respirator is reasonably clean.

Is this a blog series? If not, it should be about drywall contractors service. I would love to read the next installment on this subject.

Metzler RW, Johnson JS, Spelce DL, Rehak TR [2015]. What’s new in Z88.2 an introduction to ANSI/ASSE Z88.2-2015, practices for respiratory protection. The Synergist. https://synergist.aiha.org/201509-whats-new-in-z882

The NIOSH Certified Equipment List (CEL) is a useful resource for making a respirator selection. The online CEL tool allows you to define search criteria based on characteristics of approved respirators.

These are just a few examples of the many attractive use cases of VR in and between various types of sports. In principle, VR training is potentially interesting whenever it can provide a feasible alternative to physically demanding, dangerous, impractical, or otherwise expensive training situations (with respect to human, technical, or temporal resources) [1].In recent research, the effects of VR training have been investigated in some initial studies that assessed relevant target skills of the respective sports. Across twelve different pre-post intervention studies, including various types of sports (e.g., archery or soccer) and sport-unspecific processes (e.g., balancing skills), VR training effects mostly outperformed training effects in control conditions using more traditional approaches [1, 4, 5, 6]. For instance, one study observed higher improvements in passing decision-making performance and visual search behavior for soccer players training in VR compared to a conventional video screen [5].In addition, first investigations into the long-term transfer effects of VR training were made with baseball players [7]. Those who took part in an adaptive VR batting training (i.e., pitch speed, type, and location continuously adjusted to the players’ performance) were more likely to compete at least one full season at a level above high school baseball in the five years after the intervention compared to the other training groups (non- adaptive VR batting practice, real batting practice, and control). Thus, VR training even outperformed additional real batting practice concerning long-term transfer effects.These meaningful effects point to the potential of VR to elicit real-life performance increases. Nevertheless, the successful transfer from VR to the real world was observed in a rather heterogeneous set of initial experiments, and it remains unclear if VR simulations tailored to specific skills (e.g., gaze behavior in soccer) help athletes perform better in the real sport.Therefore, further studies and – in particular – independent replications are needed to pave the way for solid evidence-based conclusions concerning the potential benefits of VR training with practical significance [1]. Specifically, researchers should attempt to acquire evidence on whether VR is suited to successfully enhance the (cognitive) skills required in the relevant sport both in the virtual environment (step 1) and in reality (transfer effect; step 2). Ultimately, the most interesting question of whether VR training leads to enhanced performance and the athletes winning more real-life competitions must be investigated more thoroughly in future studies (step 3). In the following section, we will discuss the promising and manifold use cases of VR in Olympic sports in more detail before we highlight some of the potential pitfalls of using this new technology.

[3] C. Pagé, P. Bernier and M. Trempe, ”Using video simulations and virtual reality to improve decision-making skills in basketball,” Journal of Sports Sciences, vol. 37, no. 21, pp. 2403–2410, 2019, doi:10.1080/02640414.2019.1638193.

Dr. Fabio Richlan is a certified sport psychologist, research scientist, and lecturer at the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience and the Department of...more

[5] L. S. Fortes, S. S. Almeida, G. M. Praça, J. R. A. Nascimento-Júnior, D. Lima-Junior, B. T. Barbosa and M. E. C. Ferreira, “Virtual reality promotes greater improvements than video-stimulation screen on perceptual-cognitive skills in young soccer athletes,” Human Movement Science, vol. 79, p. 102856, 2021, doi:10.1016/j.humov.2021.102856.

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Despite all the possible use cases and potential advantages over common (computer) training methods, some safety-related factors must be taken into consideration when applying VR training. The training sessions should not last for longer than 30 minutes without taking breaks and the discrepancy between movements in the virtual and the real world should not be too large to avoid so-called cybersickness, which is a common side effect of VR including e.g., nausea or headaches [13, 14].Moreover, VR is not (yet) suited to train fine motor skills due to a lack of realism, arguably caused by missing haptic feedback. At the current state of VR devices in terms of performance, using them to train fine motor skills could lead to incorrect re-learning of movement patterns in athletes. To illustrate, an elite ice hockey goalkeeper, who is training with VR under the supervision of the authors, reported maladaptive movement patterns after training with a particular VR software. This is likely to be attributed to an imperfect “pseudo”-realism of this particular VR software and shows that researchers must bear in mind that training in VR might not (yet) be the same as training in the real world. Rather, based on recent evidence, it seems plausible that it can be used to train key points of certain movement patterns or procedural sequences and tactical movements that are less fine-grained, e.g., heading in soccer [15, 16].Furthermore, another limitation of VR devices is the fact that they should not be used as an immediate warm-up or directly before physical training and competition. During VR training, the users’ eyes receive conflicting depth cues and stress is placed on the visual system due to the unnatural setup (3D vision generated on 2D screens only centimeters away from the users’ eyes). After the VR device is removed, the visual system needs a few minutes to get used to the real world again. Thus, after VR usage it should be considered that oculomotor stability and depth perception are impaired for a short time frame, possibly impairing real-life performance in visually guided tasks [17].When it comes to the motivational effects of VR training, it must be noted that repetitive exercises in a standardized environment – despite having certain advantages – can be detrimental to athletes’ long-term motivation. Repeated practice might gradually become monotonous, especially when training alone. Current VR applications still lack the social interaction that is usually occurring on real-life training pitches. Therefore, while VR is suitable for repetitive standardized training in a safe and well-controlled environment, certain aspects of real-life training such as social interaction and generally more sensory input remain missing.

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Throughout recent years, the interest in virtual reality (VR) technology increased tremendously across a broad range of domains (e.g., medicine or military), also including high-performance Olympic sports [1]. In this article, we aim to provide evidence-based insights into the effects of VR training on athletes of Olympic sports. Additionally, examples of sport psychological VR practice will be presented as well as future developments, fields of application, and current limitations will be discussed.VR describes an experience in a simulated virtual environment. Predominantly, these virtual surroundings are presented via VR headsets (e.g., Oculus/Meta Quest or HTC Vive) with pose tracking and 3D displays right in front of the users’ eyes. Compared to conventional computer screens, VR technology allows users to immerse (i.e., dive) into the virtual environment to a much higher extent, which is arguably caused by factors such as a realistic field of view, isolation from the real world, and high-fidelity software. This increased immersion leads to a much more intense and embodied experience as compared to merely "observing" the contents of the video/application on a conventional screen.With the advent of this modern method, new possibilities of training have arisen in various high-performance sports disciplines. For example, in our ongoing project with the Austrian Ski Association, alpine skiers use VR to re-experience and video-analyze previously run races or to practice upcoming ones in a safe and resource-efficient virtual environment. Moreover, in soccer (or football), VR can be used to train field players’ awareness on the pitch, for instance, in the form of scanning behavior (i.e., rapid head movements over the shoulder to perceive the surrounding players. Despite not yet being explicitly tested in VR, in real-life, scanning behavior seems to have a positive influence on soccer performance [2].Another study was conducted using VR goggles to enhance decision-making in junior basketball players [3]. The participants were shown videos of set plays and had to decide which action they would perform next after the clip ended. Players who had been viewing these videos in VR made significantly better decisions on the court than those who had been viewing the plays on a conventional computer screen. For example, the players who did the VR training achieved a higher decision-making accuracy score, particularly for untrained plays that they had not seen before the assessment. This finding indicates both transferability to the real world and better generalizability to novel situations of VR-based training compared to conventional video-based training.

If your workplace is in compliance with dust standards, employers can permit workers to wear air-purifying respirators, following OSHA’s (Mandatory) Information for Employees Using Respirators When not Required Under Standard [1910.134 App D ]. Under this Appendix, the employer must meet the following OSHA requirements:

When it comes to VR headsets in general, these are getting more and more affordable and simultaneously better in performance. This comes with better graphics and, in turn, higher levels of immersion. Additionally, VR headsets are becoming increasingly lighter, which leads to an overall better experience using these devices due to less discomfort. Indeed, current VR head-mounted displays are often quite heavy (e.g., 503 grams for the Meta Quest 2 and 515 grams for its successor, the Meta Quest 3), potentially causing discomfort in longer training sessions, as some neck muscle contraction is required by the users to counteract gravity.Another hardware-specific characteristic that will see changes in the future is the way in which the VR experience is controlled and navigated. Prospectively, it is likely that separate hardware controllers will be completely omitted. Instead, the only navigating system will be the users’ hands, enabling higher comfort as well as more natural finger and hand movement patterns compared with regular handheld controllers. Also, video-based foot tracking could be implemented as opposed to foot controllers that are already used (e.g., in the software Rezzil Index).To ensure a greater resemblance of real-life sports features, we would speculate that some VR developers might also consider using bodysuits and/or sports equipment with trackers. This could pave the way to an “as close as possible” embodied sports experience in a virtual environment, given that vibrations are implemented in the hardware that simulate real-world sensorimotor sensations. It is questionable, however, if presenting this stimulation is sufficient for the substitution of real-world sensory input.In sports where making correct decisions is of high importance, VR can be used to explore all the possible outcomes using artificial intelligence (AI). For example, in soccer, players could experiment with different passing or running decisions to find out how this would have changed the outcome of the specific game scenario. AI algorithms could use the information of the time before the point where the decision is made to determine what would most likely happen for each other decision that could have been made.Implementing this combined method of explicit and implicit learning in a highly stimulating, immersive environment could largely benefit players of various sports in their decision-making. It must be noted, however, that in this example (soccer) and in other sports, significant space might be required for players to move in during VR training and testing [8, 9, 10, 11].Moreover, for video analysis in several types of sports, VR holds promising solutions. 360° videos are an excellent tool to use in VR headsets and provide athletes with an immersive experience of their (past and future) sporting performance in both training and competition. Recordings both from an external as well as an internal point of view (POV) might be helpful for athletes to extensively analyze their previous performance and prepare for upcoming situations (such as new sports venues, as is often the case in Olympic Games) using multiple perspectives. The combined analysis of different POVs in VR also enables switching the perspective to e.g., a teammate, a coach, an opponent, or a referee to make it understandable why certain decisions were made given the information that was available from the other POV. In team sports, this could lead to a higher sports-related “Theory of Mind” when players increase their perspective-taking abilities and can plan and react accordingly in training and competition.Besides VR, there is also the term mixed reality (MR), which can be expected to receive more interest and implementation in the future due to recent developments in this area. MR describes the combination of virtual and real (physical) environments. For example, using a VR headset to generate elements on the display (e.g., a virtual dartboard) that are projected into the real world (e.g., a real wall in a house) captured via cameras on the outside of the headset, can be considered as MR.

Construction workers can be exposed to silica dust from many sources. For example, concrete workers can be exposed to silica dust during mixing, sawing, jackhammering, chipping, grinding, and cleaning operations. Masons can be exposed when cutting concrete blocks and bricks, mixing mortar, and tuckpointing. Tile workers can be exposed when cutting ceramic tiles or stone. Highway, street, and bridge construction workers can be exposed during abrasive blasting, drilling, milling, breaking, and cutting concrete. Site preparation workers can be exposed during earthmoving, excavation and trenching, and demolition, and drywall workers can be exposed when cutting drywall and sanding joints.

[7] R. C. Gray, “Transfer of Training from Virtual to Real Baseball Batting”, Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 8, 2017, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02183

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NIOSH [1996]. Guide to the selection and use of particulate respirators certified under 42 CFR 84. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 96-101, 1996 Jan;1-29. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/96-101/

CDR Elizabeth Garza, MPH, CPH, is Assistant Coordinator for the Construction Sector in the NIOSH Office of Construction Safety and Health.

The most commonly purchased filter types are N95s and P100s. Type 95 filters usually have a lower cost and breathing resistance than type 100 filters. As the letter rating and number rating increase, breathing fatigue will also increase.

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NIOSH-approved air-purifying masks are available in two broad classes: non-powered and powered. Non-powered are sometimes referred to as negative-pressure respirators, and powered respirators are referred to as PAPRs (powered air-purifying respirators).

[17] D. J. Harris, G. Buckingham, M. R. Wilson, J. Brookes, F. Mushtaq, M. Mon-Williams, and S. J. Vine, “The effect of a virtual reality environment on gaze behaviour and motor skill learning”, Psychology of Sport and Exercise, vol. 50, pp. 101721, 2020, doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101721.

OSHA [2009]. Assigned protection factors for the revised respiratory protection standard. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA 3352-02. https://www.osha.gov/Publications/3352-APF-respirators.html