In a recent case study, NIOSH researchers purchased hundreds of respirator components from major online marketplaces to test their performance, focusing on listings bearing “NIOSH” or “P100” markings from non-authorized sellers. The results show a severe influx of fraudulent PPE:
- Failure Rates: Nearly 95% of the purchased components failed testing.
- Cartridges: Every single combination and chemical cartridge tested was fraudulent. Fake chemical cartridges exhibited chemical breakthroughs in less than five minutes, failing minimum service life requirements.
- Filters: 220 out of 240 purchased P100 filters were determined to be fake.
- Red Flags: Fraudulent listings frequently blurred, deleted, or altered certification marks in product photos (e.g., labeling a product “100” instead of “P100”).
Action Item: Ensure procurement policies strictly mandate purchasing directly from NIOSH approval holders or authorized distributors. Cross-reference all workplace respirator components with the official NIOSH Certified Equipment List (CEL). Suspected counterfeits can be reported with photos and purchase URLs to [email protected].