Washington — OSHA has issued a final rule that adds two fit testing protocols to the agency’s respiratory protection standard (1910.134).

Why do some employers fail to follow fit testing requirements? Experts weigh in on the challenges and go over the basics.

Washington — In an effort to preserve the supply of N95 filtering facepiece respirators during the COVID-19 pandemic, OSHA has temporarily suspended its requirement for annual respirator fit testing in the health care industry.

Durham, NC — In an effort to preserve the supply of N95 filtering facepiece respirators used by health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers at Duke Health say they have successfully tested a decontamination process that allows the masks to be reused safely.

Washington — OSHA is extending its temporary leniency on annual respirator fit testing to all covered employers, not only those in the health care industry.

Bethesda, MD — Three methods to decontaminate N95 filtering facepiece respirators for reuse are being recommended by the National Institutes of Health after researchers at the agency successfully tested their effectiveness and the repeat functional integrity of the respirator after each sanitization.

Washington — In effort to preserve the supply of N95 filtering facepiece respirators during the COVID-19 pandemic, OSHA is permitting the reuse of respirators that undergo certain decontamination processes, according to an April 24 temporary enforcement memo.

Washington — OSHA recently released a poster and video that detail seven steps to properly put on and remove a respirator at work.

Washington — In an effort to better protect workers in the health care and public safety sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic, NIOSH is approving a new class of powered air-purifying respirators, under an interim final rule published by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Tumwater, WA — Ethylene oxide should not be used to sterilize filtering facepiece respirators for reuse because “this extremely hazardous toxic chemical poses a severe risk to human health,” the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries warns in a new alert.

Dallas — The OSHA Region 6 Training Institute Education Centers has developed a webinar on the proper implementation of a respiratory protection program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tumwater, WA — A new e-tool from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries is intended to help employers and workers choose the appropriate mask, facial covering or respirator based on the COVID-19 exposure risk level of specific job duties.

Washington — NIOSH has extended until Dec. 14 the comment period for a Request for Information on the deployment and use of elastomeric half-mask respirators in health care settings and emergency medical services organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington — NIOSH has approved – for both personal protection and source control – the first elastomeric half-mask respirator without an exhalation valve.

Washington — Prompted by an “increased domestic supply” of NIOSH-approved respirators, the Food and Drug Administration is recommending health care facilities transition away from strategies intended to conserve supplies of disposable respirators amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington — Prompted by an “increased domestic supply” of NIOSH-approved respirators, the Food and Drug Administration has revoked its emergency use authorizations for non-NIOSH-approved disposable respirators as well as decontamination and bioburden reduction systems.

Pittsburgh — NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory has marked Sept. 7-10 as its annual Respiratory Protection Week, an event intended to promote proper respiratory protection practices through the sharing of related research findings and educational tools.

Washington — NIOSH has issued a pair of fact sheets on filtering facepiece respirators, detailing how to tell if an N95 is approved by the agency as well as procedures for fit testing and testing filtration efficiency.

Washington — Knowing how to select, use and maintain NIOSH-approved respirators can help promote proper respiratory protection practices and protect construction workers from unsafe airborne contaminants, according to a new toolbox talk published by the agency and CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training.

Boston — Common types of N95 respirators – widely used by health care professionals providing direct care to patients with COVID-19 – can be safely reprocessed up to 25 times to help augment supplies during future pandemics, results of a recent study by Boston researchers suggest.

Washington — The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine is calling for two separate respiratory protection frameworks – one for workers, and one for the public – amid the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, in a recently published report.

Washington — Officials from OSHA and NIOSH joined stakeholders from industry and labor groups in a series of recent webinars to discuss a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report calling for separate respiratory protection frameworks for workers and the public.

Washington — NIOSH has selected 20 winning entries for the initial phase of its Respirator Fit Evaluation Challenge.

Washington — NIOSH wants to update its estimate of the number of organizations and workers who use respirators – and evaluate the reasons behind their use.

Washington — NIOSH has chosen nine winners for the second phase of its Respirator Fit Evaluation Challenge.

Washington — Nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses in the U.S private sector, as well as the nonfatal injury and illness rate, decreased slightly in 2020. However, estimated injuries and illnesses that resulted in at least one day of lost work soared by nearly a third amid the COVID-19 pandemic, data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows.

This free app allows industrial hygienists and safety professionals to quickly access answers to frequently asked respiratory questions; check the 3M respirator selection guide; identify 3M facepieces, cartridges and filters; walk through an overview of qualitative fit-testing protocols; and conduct fit tests.

Respirators are vital pieces of protective equipment in many workplaces, protecting workers against harmful fumes and contaminants. But respirators cannot do their job effectively if they are not properly fitted.

OSHA requires respiratory protection to be worn whenever work is being conducted in hazardous atmospheres. Although different respirators are required in different atmospheric situations, in all cases training must be provided to employees using such devices.

Although disposable respirators cannot completely protect a worker from inhaling airborne particles, they can reduce the number of particles inhaled.

Making sure respirators are in proper working order is critical to ensuring they perform as intended. The Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety recommends following a number of steps when caring for your respirator.

Washington — NIOSH has announced winners of the third and final phase of its Respirator Fit Evaluation Challenge.

Washington — Employers can help prevent the spread of common respiratory viruses indoors by ensuring proper workplace ventilation and limiting the use of small, shared spaces, the Environmental Protection Agency says.

Atlanta — Emissions from 3D printers may contain fine and ultrafine particles that can damage airway cells and negatively affect respiratory health, result of a recent study show.

The Rugged Comfort Half Facepiece Reusable Respirator delivers comfort, durability and stability with a firm, lightly textured silicone face seal and strong construction.

The Air-Safe N95 Reusable Respirator with VFF Technology delivers a clean, hygienic facepiece with each replacement.

The NIOSH-approved PeakFit N95 particulate respirator was engineered for user comfort and safety.

The 4800 N95 plus relief from nuisance organic vapors is the latest member of the AirWave family of respirators.

This Powered Air-Purifying Respirator with a Titanium 9400i Welding Helmet, designed for welding and grinding applications, is more than 1 pound lighter than the leading brand, reducing fatigue and providing all-day comfort.

The EVAHL Powered Air-Purifying Respirator is HazLoc-rated, NIOSH-approved and certified by CSA International for hazardous locations Class I, Division 2, Groups A, B, C, D T6; Class II, Division 2 Groups F, G; and Class III.

Can respirators help protect a person from the virus that causes H1N1/09 influenza?

Knowing which type of respirator to use – and how use it properly – is crucial to protecting chimney sweeps from exposure to airborne hazards, NIOSH says in a fact sheet.

Compliance made easy. The Eyewash Expiration Timer provides simple, effective visual management for emergency eyewashes, helping to ensure OSHA compliance.

In Episode 44, the S+H team examines the October issue’s feature story on respirable crystalline silica. Also, Suzi Craig, vice president of workplace mental health at Mental Health America, joins the podcast to discuss normalizing conversations and attitudes around mental health in the “Five Questions With …” segment. 

What is the relationship between OSHA permissible exposure limits/maximum use concentrations and assigned protection factors?

How are powered air-purifying systems protecting frontline health care workers from COVID-19?

As an employer, what are my responsibilities to protect my workers from respiratory hazards? What responsibilities do my employees have?

What are the different types of respirator fit testing? What are their limitations and benefits?

How do I choose between a full-face respirator and a half-face respirator?

How do I implement respirator fit testing at my facility?