NIOSH provides guidance on respirator selection for health care workers

Washington — Because of the variety of different respiratory hazards health care workers are exposed to on the job, knowing the difference between types of respiratory protection is key.

NIOSH’s Respirator Selection Guide for the Healthcare Industry guidance is intended to help. 

The first step for health care employers and respiratory protection program managers: Conduct a hazard assessment to determine if workers are exposed to surgical smoke, infectious agents, anesthetic waste gases or other hazards.

Follow the Hierarchy of Controls to address any hazards, NIOSH says, starting with engineering controls to reduce or remove a hazard and administrative controls to decrease worker exposure.

If it’s determined that a health care worker will still need to wear a respirator, employers should choose the correct NIOSH-approved protection for the hazard, which include:

• Disposable filtering facepiece respirator, such as an N95
• Reusable, non-powered elastomeric half-face respirator
• Powered air-purifying respirator

“Employers who require workers to use a respirator must implement a respiratory protection program,” the guidance says. NIOSH offers the Hospital Respiratory Protection Program Toolkit to assist with development and implementation of an effective program. Medical clearance, fit checks and training are three essential parts of an RPP, according to the agency.