Uploaded August 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Since 2019, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has promoted Respiratory Protection Week. According to the agency, respiratory protection has always been a key component of personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep individuals safe from workplace airborne hazards, but over the last few years, more people have become aware of just how important.
Each year, NIOSH continues respirator research to address knowledge gaps and uses this observance week to share their findings and educational tools to promote proper respiratory protection practices. NIOSH also encourages hosting activities within companies and organizations, whether that be training sessions with staff, educational messages pertaining to specific workplace hazards, or just pictures on social media of staff showing off their proper respiratory protection practices.
Respirators protect the user in two basic ways reports the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The first is by the removal of contaminants from the air. Respirators of this type include particulate respirators, which filter out airborne particles, and air-purifying respirators with cartridges/canisters which filter out chemicals and gases. Other respirators protect by supplying clean respirable air from another source. Respirators that fall into this category include airline respirators, which use compressed air from a remote source, and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which include their own air supply.
Proper respiratory protection for workers can prevent illnesses and deaths. It also helps to create a culture of safety at work which has been shown to reduce costs, raise productivity and improve morale.
Unfortunately, even with all that is known about the importance of respirators, respiratory protection is one OSHA’s 10 most frequently cited safety and health violations, year after year. For 2021, it was the second most frequently cited standard.
These are just a few of the many things to know about Respiratory Protection Week. To learn more about this or other air quality, industrial hygiene, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
CTSI ctsiweb.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
Since 2019, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has promoted Respiratory Protection Week. According to the agency, respiratory protection has always been a key component of personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep individuals safe from workplace airborne hazards, but over the last few years, more people have become aware of just how important.
Each year, NIOSH continues respirator research to address knowledge gaps and uses this observance week to share their findings and educational tools to promote proper respiratory protection practices. NIOSH also encourages hosting activities within companies and organizations, whether that be training sessions with staff, educational messages pertaining to specific workplace hazards, or just pictures on social media of staff showing off their proper respiratory protection practices.
Respirators protect the user in two basic ways reports the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The first is by the removal of contaminants from the air. Respirators of this type include particulate respirators, which filter out airborne particles, and air-purifying respirators with cartridges/canisters which filter out chemicals and gases. Other respirators protect by supplying clean respirable air from another source. Respirators that fall into this category include airline respirators, which use compressed air from a remote source, and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which include their own air supply.
Proper respiratory protection for workers can prevent illnesses and deaths. It also helps to create a culture of safety at work which has been shown to reduce costs, raise productivity and improve morale.
Unfortunately, even with all that is known about the importance of respirators, respiratory protection is one OSHA’s 10 most frequently cited safety and health violations, year after year. For 2021, it was the second most frequently cited standard.
These are just a few of the many things to know about Respiratory Protection Week. To learn more about this or other air quality, industrial hygiene, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
CTSI ctsiweb.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
