Recommendations concerning the role of workplace testing of respirators as a condition of certification
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.
- Research Organization:
- Harvard Univ., Boston, MA (United States). School of Public Health
- OSTI ID:
- 5607337
- Report Number(s):
- PB-92-133370/XAB; CNN: PHS-0009142270
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: 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 NIOSH, Morgantown, WV. Appalachian Lab. for Occupational Safety and Health
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
RESPIRATORS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
CERTIFICATION
FIELD TESTS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES
RECOMMENDATIONS
REGULATIONS
WORKING CONDITIONS
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
AIR POLLUTION
POLLUTION
TESTING
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)