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Respiratory

Bullard: Safety Matters Because Tomorrow Matters.

December 4, 2024

Head Protection Does Type I and Type II head protection protect different areas of the head? Type I and Type II are both designed to provide head protection however they have different impact protection standards. Additionally, there are multiple styles of head protection including hard hats and safety helmets. Type I head protection is primarily…

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Finding the Right Fit— Is Your Respirator “The One?”

November 23, 2024

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on the NIOSH Science Blog, by authors Aris Copeland, Meghan Kiederer, Joseph Schall and Megan Casey. For the original article, visit: https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2024/02/14/vday-respirator-2024/ Finding the right fit is one of the most important parts of a relationship. You don’t just grab any old fish from the sea that swims by…

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Clear Breaths, Clear Choice: Find Your Ideal Respirator

September 3, 2024

By: Ray Chishti, Contributor One of the most challenging aspects of respiratory protection is respirator selection. There are myriad requirements that employers often misunderstand. Unfortunately, these misunderstandings can lead to overexposure and illness. Selecting the proper respirator for the job is essential to protecting employees’ health. Identify the Contaminants Before employees can be protected, air…

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Know Your Respiratory Fit-Testing Protocols

July 30, 2024

Current respirator fit-testing protocols and the impact of OSHA’s modified 1910.134 standard on respiratory protection program implementation & resource allocation By: Rob Brauch, Contributor Fit-testing of tight-fitting respirators has been required to be part of a written respiratory protection program (RPP) under US DOL OSHA 1910.134 for decades. The standard covers both qualitative (QLFT) and…

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Next-Gen Respiratory Protection

May 8, 2024

Trends & Innovations to Keep Workers Safe Even before wearing face masks became a global norm, you were ahead of the curve and familiar with using respiratory protection. You may have even been lucky enough to have access to a good stash of masks during the pandemic because of your line of work. Whether you wear…

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A Matter of Accuracy: Calibrating & Using Personal Sampling Pumps

February 5, 2024

By: Tim Turney, Contributor According to a recent collaborative study between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), the majority of work-related deaths over a 15-year period can be attributed to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.[1] Air sampling pumps are crucial pieces of a kit that offer employers a tool to effectively…

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Who is Most at Risk for COPD?

February 5, 2024

The Risk of COPD is Increased for Workers in Certain Industries and Occupations and with Certain Occupational Exposures By: Paul K. Henneberger, MPH, ScD, Senior Science Advisor, NIOSH Respiratory Health Division Editor’s Note: The following article first appeared on the NIOSH Science Blog. For the original article, visit: https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2022/11/16/copd-month/. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is…

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Benefits & Uses of Emergency Escape Respirators

January 3, 2024

IHW sat down with the folks at ILC Dover to discuss their innovative respirators, NIOSH-approved filtration and more.  First, what is the difference between a standard respirator and an emergency escape respirator? “Standard” respirators are typically designed to support workers in operations where they are performing a job – e.g., a production operation, lab testing…

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The Fundamental Importance of Fit

November 21, 2023

Overview of the ASTM F3407 Standard Test Method for Respirator Fit Capability By: Christopher Coffey, Ph.D.; Lisa Brosseau, ScD, CIH; M. E. Bonnie Rogers, Dr, PH; and Jonathan Szalajda, MS One of the most important criteria for any filtering facepiece air-purifying respirator to be effective is that a good seal is formed between the respirator’s…

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Deadly Dust

November 6, 2023

Silica: Stealing Lives for Centuries Approximately 2.3 million professionals face exposure to crystalline silica at work. In 2016, OSHA updated the exposure regulations for silica for the first time since 1971. Two years later, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reported on the largest cluster of black lung disease among active coal…

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