NIOSH Publishes Guide to Atmosphere-Supplying Respirators
A new guide published in September by NIOSH describes different types of atmosphere-supplying respirators, which provide clean breathing air from a source independent of the work area. According to the agency, atmosphere-supplying respirators protect workers from many types of airborne contaminants. In certain cases, these respirators can also protect workers from oxygen-deficient atmospheres.  NIOSH’s brief guide summarizes the advantages, disadvantages, and recommended uses of supplied-air respirators, self-contained breathing apparatus, and combination supplied-air/self-contained breathing apparatus. NIOSH reminds employers and wearers that respirators must be approved by its respirator approval program and used in the context of a complete respiratory protection program per OSHA’s respiratory protection standard, which includes annual fit-testing for all respirators with a tight-fitting facepiece. The guide is available for download from NIOSH’s website. More information about respirator use is available in “A Guide to Industrial Respiratory Protection” available from NIOSH.
NEWSWATCH
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
img_201911-news9