Respiratory Protection

Medical evaluations for Respirator use is a critical path in their safe use

On May 18, 2023, at 7:45 p.m. an employee, 45, working for a paint and coating manufacturer was wearing a 3M half-face respirator while spray coating MacroPoxy 646 Fast Cure Epoxy on parts. The employee was spraying the last parts of the day when he began feeling chest pain. The employee used his inhaler twice…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Medical evaluations for Respirator use is a critical path in their safe use Read More »

Effective Immediately: Voluntary Rescission of Two Honeywell International Inc. Approvals

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has honored a request by Honeywell International Inc. to voluntarily rescind two NIOSH respirator approvals issued to Honeywell International Inc. Due to the voluntary rescission of these NIOSH approvals, respirators bearing these NIOSH approval numbers MAY NO LONGER BE USED, manufactured, assembled, sold, or distributed. As of…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Effective Immediately: Voluntary Rescission of Two Honeywell International Inc. Approvals Read More »

What is a CUR?

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposes to amend regulatory requirements that would be used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to test and approve Combination Unit Respirators (CURs).  NFPA defines a CUR as…… Membership Required You must be a member to...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

What is a CUR? Read More »

NIOSH updates MultiVapor™ Version 2.2.6 Application

MultiVapor™ has been updated to resolve the errors users experienced with a missing MSSTDFMT.DLL file, and other minor typographical errors. MultiVapor™ is a computer tool for estimating breakthrough times and service life of air-purifying respirator cartridges manufactured to remove toxic organic vapors (OV) from breathed air. It can also be used for larger filters and…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

NIOSH updates MultiVapor™ Version 2.2.6 Application Read More »

Knowing the limitations of the respirator is CRITICAL

As is evident by several Permit-Required Confined Space incidents over the years, workers MUST FULLY understand the limitations of the respirators they are using.  This latest incident involved a worker who was vacuuming, and the nozzle became stuck inside the tank. To free the nozzle, the worker—wearing a respirator with organic filters used explicitly for…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Knowing the limitations of the respirator is CRITICAL Read More »

User Safety Notice SN122223 – 3M™ Scott™ Cylinder and Valve Assemblies

Immediate Action Required Impacted Dates:  October 3, 2023 – December 4 ,2023 3M™ Scott™ Cylinder and Valve Assemblies are safe to use once the instructions in this notice are carried out. 3M Scott have been made aware of a small number of cylinder valves that experienced noticeable rates of leakage upon initial inspection when the…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

User Safety Notice SN122223 – 3M™ Scott™ Cylinder and Valve Assemblies Read More »

OSHA clarifications for breathing air quality and use

The Suburban Manufacturing Group manufactures filtration and drying systems for compressed air. A part of the product line is a compressed air filtration system for use with supplied air respirators (SARs). You have asked for OSHA’s interpretation on addressing air quality and clarification on various designs or configurations of currently marketed breathing air systems. Please…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

OSHA clarifications for breathing air quality and use Read More »

NIOSH – Revocation of Public Health Emergency (PHE) Approvals issued during the COVID-19 Response

Between May and November 2020, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) issued limited, temporary Public Health Emergency (PHE) approvals for N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) to address respirator supply shortages during that time. In July 2021, NIOSH published NIOSH CA 2021-1036 to remind PHE approval holders that these…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

NIOSH – Revocation of Public Health Emergency (PHE) Approvals issued during the COVID-19 Response Read More »

The effect of wearer stubble on the protection given by Filtering Facepieces Class 3 (FFP3) and Half Masks (UK HSE)

HSE Inspectors routinely come across workers with various degrees of stubble growth using respiratory protective masks despite guidance to the contrary. This research studied the effect of 0-7 days stubble growth on the protection given by FFP3 filtering facepieces and half masks.  Fifteen male volunteers took part, each testing four masks. For most, three different…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

The effect of wearer stubble on the protection given by Filtering Facepieces Class 3 (FFP3) and Half Masks (UK HSE) Read More »

Nitrogen kills sandblaster while wearing respirator hood (Pressure testing)

At 5:00 p.m. on February 4, 2021, an employee was working for a firm that manufactured fabricated structural metal. He was performing abrasive blasting with steel shot. He was wearing a supplied air respirator (SAR). While using the supplied air hood, he lost consciousness. A pressure testing operation downstream on the plant airline allowed nitrogen…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Nitrogen kills sandblaster while wearing respirator hood (Pressure testing) Read More »

Employee connects to Nitrogen bottle rather than breathing air bottle

At 12:00 noon on August 19, 2021, an employee utilized an airline respirator that was attached to a nitrogen line. The employee died from a lack of oxygen…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Employee connects to Nitrogen bottle rather than breathing air bottle Read More »

Redemption – Clarification on powered-air purifying respirators (PAPR), their assigned protection factor, and Footnote 4

I have been validated!  I have received so many nasty grams from folks regarding my position on the ASSUMED PAPR Assigned Protection Factor of 1,000 which I wrote about in several postings going all the way back to 2015 of which this was my first attempt to educate and warn others of some flawed practices:…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Redemption – Clarification on powered-air purifying respirators (PAPR), their assigned protection factor, and Footnote 4 Read More »

Scroll to Top