Assessment of the NIOSH Head-and-Face Anthropometric Survey of U.S. Respirator Users (2007) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
5 Future Directions: Additional Analyses and Research to Practice
5 Future Directions: Additional Analyses and Research to Practice
Pages 81-92
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 81... ...
This chapter discusses those recommendations and the rationales behind them. FACE PANELS REQUIRE PERIODIC UPDATES As described in detail in the previous chapters, there are several potential weaknesses in the NIOSH-sponsored Anthrotech study.
|
From page 82... ...
The development of these future panels would be greatly improved if NIOSH assured that the samples included in the panels were representative of workers who should be using respirators, and if NIOSH incorporated and validated three-dimensional measures, and measured quantitative fit. Conclusion The proposed NIOSH-sponsored Anthrotech face panel represents an improvement over the LANL face panel, and its application is likely to improve the availability of respirators that fit a broader segment of the work force.
|
From page 83... ...
In addition to the analyses described in the preceding chapters, the committee recommends that NIOSH use its existing fit and facial dimensions data, and new quantitative fit tests, to evaluate the current LANL face panel, the proposed bivariate face panel, and the principal component analysis-derived face panel. Specifically, NIOSH should examine the following questions: • Using the same brand of respirators, do the proposed face panels have an improved pass rate compared to the LANL face panels?
|
From page 84... ...
Because of individual variations in sensitivity, it is not possible to correlate a failed fit test with how much of the test substance leaked into the facepiece. The committee heard from NIOSH personnel that some respirator fit failures may be a result of above-average sen sitivity of some subjects to the odor of IAA rather than from a poorly fitting respirator.
|
From page 85... ...
. For example, in a recent study performed in the auto body repair and refinishing industry, it was shown that for half-face cartridge respirators, 92 percent of workers (both new and previously fit-tested workers)
|
From page 86... ...
against a fit-test panel and not specify what portion of the panel the respirators must fit, provided that the family adequately covers the entire panel. This will eliminate current inequities among those manufacturers submitting a single size versus those submitting multiple sizes.
|
From page 87... ...
to be certified against a fit-test panel and not specify what portion of the panel each individual size respirator must fit, provided that the family adequately covers the entire panel. Clarifying Face Mask Packaging Requirements The committee heard from experts and NIOSH staff that it is current industry practice to limit designation of fit attributes of half-face respirators to size -- that is, small, medium, and large (McKay, July 10, 2006)
|
From page 88... ...
NIOSH should encourage manufacturers to develop improved methods of describing facial sizes and shapes in product literature. For example, NIOSH and manufacturing companies should further explore the use of face panel images, and respirator contain ers should include corresponding pictures of small, medium, and large sizes, and long/narrow and small/wide face pictures.
|
From page 89... ...
Limited research studies have confirmed that the selection of a respirator based solely on its size, without the benefit of individual fit testing, will produce a poorly-fitting respirator 30 to 40 percent of the time (Coffey et al., 1999)
|
From page 90... ...
Simplification of respirator use is therefore critical if the goal is to increase use of appropriate respiratory protection. Additional interdisciplinary research is needed to develop respirators that do not require fit testing, are more user friendly, and require minimal maintenance.
|
From page 91... ...
. However, these efforts are dependent on NIOSH beginning to use quantitative fit testing in their certification process.
|
From page 92... ...
Respirator Users: Respirator fitting issues. Pittsburgh, PA: National Personal Protective Tech nology Laboratory.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.