Washington — NIOSH wants to update its estimate of the number of organizations and workers who use respirators – and evaluate the reasons behind their use.
The Survey of Respirator Use and Practices marks NIOSH’s first effort to collect national, industrywide data on respiratory protection since 2001. In a press release, NIOSH cites a need to update its Respirator Approval Program, as awareness and use of respirators has expanded amid the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.
“Respirators offer workers and the public protection from hazards such as those created when providing health care to patients, using harsh chemicals for cleaning or manufacturing, or fighting wildland or structural fires,” Maryann D’Alessandro, director of NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, said in the release. “We encourage all businesses to complete the survey about their respirator use and practices. This information is critical to informing future research and development within NIOSH’s Respirator Approval Program.”
NIOSH plans to begin contacting employers regarding the survey on Nov. 2. Questions? Email ODAdmin@cdc.gov.
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Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication