The Personal Protective Technology Program at NIOSH: Reviews of Research Programs of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health by National Research Council & Institute of Medicine of the National Academies

Author:National Research Council & Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Industry and Labor : Policy, Reviews and Evaluations. Health and Medicine : Workplace and Occupational Health
Publisher: NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
Published: 2008-09-25T00:00:00+00:00

Collaborations

The PPT Program’s work on expediting the development of standards specific to CBRN respirators was based on extensive collaborations. Efforts began in 1999 with discussions at a workshop sponsored by NIOSH, the Department of Defense, and OSHA (NIOSH, 2007a). Early on, it was determined that the CBRN respirator standards development effort would also involve NFPA and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Memoranda of understanding were put in place that defined each agency’s role, and the PPT Program worked extensively with these agencies as well as many others (including respirator manufacturers) to specify the hazards, define the operational requirements, and determine the protection requirements and standards.

The PPT Program provided technical assistance to the Food and Drug Administration in efforts to develop the new classification for respirators for the general public in the event of pandemic influenza (FDA, 2007). Further, the PPT Program has actively sponsored and participated in workshops on the topic of PPT for an influenza pandemic. These efforts include a January 2006 NIOSH conference Public Use of Respiratory Protection and a joint U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-FDA-NIOSH interagency workgroup on PPT and other issues relevant to avian influenza in the workplace (NIOSH, 2007a). Research efforts to examine biocidal technologies and their use in respirators have involved developing MOUs with six respirator manufacturers. Collaborations with the Department of Veterans Affairs are focused on examining issues of comfort and wearability (NIOSH, 2007a).

The PPT Program’s research into developing software models to predict the end of service life for respirator cartridges has involved multiple partners including the American Chemistry Council, the International Safety Equipment Association, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the National Paint and Coatings Association, and others. More recent research efforts focused on the development of sensor-based approaches (to be embedded in the cartridge) are part of an active collaboration with the Microelectrical Systems Laboratory of Carnegie Mellon University and the U.S. Air Force. The current prototype system has been refined through five iterations of sensor design. Based on this collaborative research, the PPT Program has moved from basic research, to development of the sensor system, to actively working with manufacturers on testing these devices integrated into commercial respirators.

As a part of the recent nanotechnology efforts, the PPT Program has collaborated extensively with other NIOSH colleagues in efforts to develop and implement the NIOSH strategic plan. Finally, the PPT Program works with MSHA to update the materials used to train miners in donning SCSR respirators.

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