Nationwide, approximately 1.3 million workplaces provide at least a portion of their employees with respiratory protection. One of the most common types of respiratory protection is the filtering facepiece respirator (FFR), which is designed to be discarded when it becomes unsuitable for further use due to considerations of hygiene, excessive resistance, or physical damage. However, due to the considerations of cost, convenience, and supply, respiratory protection program managers have a great interest in the practices of reuse and extended use of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved FFRs that are not damaged or soiled. The following are a few of the most frequently asked questions about respirator reuse.
Can Filtering Facepiece Respirators Safely be Reused?