Tag: NIOSH

elastomeric half-mask respirator (EHMR)

NIOSH Approves New Elastomeric Respirator, Publishes Research into Face Coverings

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently approved the first elastomeric respirator without an exhalation valve, developed by the Mine Safety Appliance (MSA) Corporation. Elastomeric respirators are half-facepiece or full-facepiece respirators made with a facepiece of synthetic or natural rubber material that can be repeatedly used, cleaned, disinfected, stored, and reused.

Facial hair and respirators

NIOSH’s Facial Hair and Respirators Infographic Viewed by Thousands

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently acknowledged that the infographic “Facial Hairstyles and Filtering Facepiece Respirators,” which was used in a November 2, 2017, blog post, has been downloaded over 19,000 times. NIOSH said that 95% of the downloads were made in 2020.

Histoplasmosis Fungal Infection

NIOSH Looks to Raise Awareness of Fungal Infection Histoplasmosis in Workers

The diagnosis of histoplasmosis, a fungal infection of the lungs, often can be delayed due to a lack of awareness of the condition, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) said in its January 2021 newsletter on recent research developments. Workers in agriculture and construction are at higher risk for histoplasmosis, which is […]

COVID-19 safety inspection

ASTM Developing Nonregulatory Standard for Face Masks

ASTM International, a standards-setting organization formerly known as The American Society for Testing and Materials, is developing a new specification for face coverings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended cloth face coverings for the general public to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has […]

COVID-19 coronavirus

COVID-19: CDC Updates Employer Resources; Cal/OSHA Rules Take Effect; Former OSHA Head Joins Biden Advisory Board

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provided updated resources on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for employers. These include a fact sheet on case investigation and contact tracing, critical infrastructure sector response planning, and information for school administrators and school nurses.

Robots and safety

As Thoughts Turn to the Future of Work, CDC Awards Grant for Robotics Safety Study

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded $1.5 million in funding over 3 years for research into reducing workers’ exposures to hazards through the development and use of collaborative robots, or co-robots, to be performed by the University of Illinois at Chicago and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the CDC announced.

Safety professional or OSHA inspector looking at a report on a clipboard

NIOSH Reports on Performance of Six of Its Programs

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released reports on the performance of six of its programs: chronic disease prevention; health hazard evaluations; occupational safety and health surveillance; safe, skilled, ready workforce; services workers; and wholesale and retail trade.

Firefighter

NIOSH and NFPA Sign New Memorandum of Understanding

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and NFPA’s research affiliate, the Fire Protection Research Foundation, to cooperate on issues involving emergency responder personal protective clothing and equipment (PPE), including the development of standards concerning first responder safety, deployment, operations, and […]

elastomeric half-mask respirator (EHMR)

NIOSH Seeks Comment on EHMR Use, Respirator Stockpile

On September 14, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) issued a request for information and comment on the deployment to and use of elastomeric half-mask respirators (EHMRs) by emergency medical services (EMS) organizations and in healthcare settings during the ongoing coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (85 FR 56618).