Research the Right Respirator

Choosing the best respirator to protect workers can be a difficult task for safety leaders. 

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health assists employers by maintaining a searchable, online version of a certified equipment list.

This list can help someone determine if the respirator they are using is considered NIOSH-certified. 

It also can help a user or safety manager select the appropriate respirator to protect against the specific hazards they are exposed to and help them locate correct replacement component parts for respirators. 

As respirators are approved or undergo a status change, members of NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory update the list. 

NPPTL conducts scientific research, develops guidance and authoritative recommendations on improving personal protective equipment. 

The team also conducts research about various types of personal protective equipment, including chemical-resistant clothing, hearing protection, gloves, safety goggles and glasses, hard hats, sensors to detect hazardous substances, and communication devices used for safety deployment of emergency workers.