HEALTHCARE RESPIRATORY PROTECTION RESOURCES
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5. Fit Testing
NIOSH Documents
Hospital Respiratory Protection Program Toolkit
This toolkit was developed to assist hospitals in developing and implementing effective respiratory protection programs, with an emphasis on preventing the transmission of aerosol transmissible diseases (ATDs) to healthcare personnel.
Healthcare personnel are paid and unpaid persons who provide patient care in a healthcare setting or support the delivery of healthcare by providing clerical, dietary, housekeeping, engineering, security, or maintenance services. Healthcare personnel may potentially be exposed to ATD pathogens. Aerosols are particles or droplets suspended in air. ATDs are diseases transmitted when infectious agents, which are suspended or present in particles or droplets, contact the mucous membranes or are inhaled.
Implementing Hospital Respiratory Protection Programs: Strategies from the Field
Protecting workers from exposure to all types of respiratory hazards is an important issue for hospitals and other healthcare organizations. In order to address this often overlooked danger, The Joint Commission and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) have collaborated to develop a new educational monograph designed to assist hospitals in implementing their respiratory protection programs (RPPs).
NIOSH Policy Statement: NIOSH Respirator Use Policy/OSHA’s I91 0.1 34 - this is an internal document. public cannot access.
August 4, 1999.
Infographics
NIOSH Reach II Study: Understanding and Selecting Respiratory Protection Devices
Infographic addressing situations that require respiratory protection and whether an N95 FFR or a surgical mask should be utilized.
PDF [445 KB], Image [1,940 KB]
Summary of Respiration Fit Test Requirements
Infographic explaining who needs to get fit tested, how to get fit tested, and the required follow up.
PDF [1,123 KB], Image [962 KB]
Blogs
Videos
Journal Articles
Temporal Changes in Filtering Facepiece Respirator Fit
Zhuang, Z., M. Bergman, E. Brochu, A. Palmiero, G. Niezgoda, X. He, R. Roberge, and R.E. Shaffer
J Occup Environ Hyg 2016 Apr; 13(4):269-278
Correlation between respirator fit and respirator fit test panel cells by respirator size
Zhuang-ZQ; Groce-D; Ahlers-HW; Iskander-W; Landsittel-D; Guffey-S; Benson-S; Viscusi-D; Shaffer-RE
J Occup Environ Hyg 2008 Oct; 5(10):617-628
New Respirator fit test panels representing the current US civilian work force
Zhuang, Z.Q., B. Bradtmiller, and R.E. Shaffer
J. Occup. Environ. Hyg. 4(9): 647-659 (2007)
Simulated Workplace Protection Factors for Half-Facepiece Respiratory Protective Devices
Duling-MG; Lawrence-RB; Slaven-JE; Coffey-CC
J Occup Environ Hyg 2007 Jun; 4(6):420-431
Evaluation of sampling probes for fit testing N95 filtering facepiece respirators
Bergman-MS; Viscusi-DJ; Zhuang-Z; Newcomb-WE
Ann Occup Hyg 2013 May; 57(4):507-518
- Page last reviewed: August 10, 2016
- Page last updated: April 21, 2017
- Content source:
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory