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Recommendations Concerning the Role of Workplace Testing of Respirators as a Condition of Certification.

PB92133370

Publication Date	1991
Personal Author	Sherwood, R. J.
Page Count	56
Abstract	The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for certification of respiratory protective devices published on August 27, 1987, as it related to workplace performance testing as a condition of certification was reviewed. After considering all available literature on the topic, the author concludes that to introduce workplace or simulated workplace testing to determine workplace protection factors into the requirements for certification of industrial respirators would be premature. The primary reason for this conclusion is the great variability seen in protection demonstrated currently in workplace test programs and in fit testing. Effort is currently needed to determine the exposure of workers while using respirators. Several approaches toward this end are reviewed taking into account work recently reported. Little progress is reported in the area of performance of negative pressure high efficiency filter respirators since 1962. Further development is needed in the anthropometric description of human faces which is still restricted to two dimensional models. Emphasis should be placed on positive pressure systems which meet further certification requirements to ensure that positive pressure is maintained in the breathing zone at all times. The cost effectiveness of any proposed research program should be critically examined and compared with the high cost of field testing for certification purposes.
Keywords	Respirators Occupational safety and health Industrial safety Industrial hygiene Toxic substances Performance standards Certification Field tests Working conditions Recommendations Tables(Data) Design criteria Notification procedures Protective equipment Regulations Indoor air pollution Breathing masks Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Source Agency	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	57U - Public Health & Industrial Medicine 94H - Industrial Safety Engineering 94D - Job Environment 95D - Human Factors Engineering 68G - Environmental Health & Safety 68A - Air Pollution & Control
Corporate Authors	Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA.; National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV.
Supplemental Notes	See also PB92-133271. Report on Prerulemaking Conference on NIOSH Assessment of Performance Levels for Industrial Respirators and Recommendations Based Thereon, Morgantown, WV., January 9-11, 1991. Sponsored by National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV. Appalachian Lab. for Occupational Safety and Health.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	199208
Contract Number	PHS-0009142270

Recommendations Concerning the Role of Workplace Testing of Respirators as a Condition of Certification.

Recommendations Concerning the Role of Workplace Testing of Respirators as a Condition of Certification.
PB92133370

Publication Date	1991
Personal Author	Sherwood, R. J.
Page Count	56
Abstract	The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for certification of respiratory protective devices published on August 27, 1987, as it related to workplace performance testing as a condition of certification was reviewed. After considering all available literature on the topic, the author concludes that to introduce workplace or simulated workplace testing to determine workplace protection factors into the requirements for certification of industrial respirators would be premature. The primary reason for this conclusion is the great variability seen in protection demonstrated currently in workplace test programs and in fit testing. Effort is currently needed to determine the exposure of workers while using respirators. Several approaches toward this end are reviewed taking into account work recently reported. Little progress is reported in the area of performance of negative pressure high efficiency filter respirators since 1962. Further development is needed in the anthropometric description of human faces which is still restricted to two dimensional models. Emphasis should be placed on positive pressure systems which meet further certification requirements to ensure that positive pressure is maintained in the breathing zone at all times. The cost effectiveness of any proposed research program should be critically examined and compared with the high cost of field testing for certification purposes.
Keywords	Respirators Occupational safety and health Industrial safety Industrial hygiene Toxic substances Performance standards Certification Field tests Working conditions Recommendations Tables(Data) Design criteria Notification procedures Protective equipment Regulations Indoor air pollution Breathing masks Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Source Agency	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	57U - Public Health & Industrial Medicine 94H - Industrial Safety Engineering 94D - Job Environment 95D - Human Factors Engineering 68G - Environmental Health & Safety 68A - Air Pollution & Control
Corporate Authors	Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA.; National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV.
Supplemental Notes	See also PB92-133271. Report on Prerulemaking Conference on NIOSH Assessment of Performance Levels for Industrial Respirators and Recommendations Based Thereon, Morgantown, WV., January 9-11, 1991. Sponsored by National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV. Appalachian Lab. for Occupational Safety and Health.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	199208
Contract Number	PHS-0009142270