Emergency Responders - Use and Reuse of NIOSH-approved Respirators

This study examined the effects of cleaning on selected National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) respirators. The Chemical Ordnance Biological and Radiological Training Facility (COBRATF) is planning to incorporate NIOSH-approved CBRN-respirators into its training program. COBRATF is operated by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP). Currently, the COBRATF uses the U.S. Army’s M40A1 field protective mask during training. COBRATF used these respirators because there was no approved respirator that would be applicable under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards or precedent set, as well as no NIOSH-approved protection available.  The best available source of information was the use of Military specification information which recommends use of the M40A1 respirator. NIOSH now has approved CBRN-respirators and COBRATF plans to incorporate them into its program. The current cleaning process has not shown an increase in the risk associated with repeated use of M40A1 respirators. Prior to incorporating new respirators into a proven successful program, COBRATF conducted a study to ensure that the integrity of the NIOSH-approved CBRN respirators is not compromised. Selected NIOSH-approved CBRN respirators were tested by COBRATF using the same cleaning, decontamination and testing procedures which are currently used at the COBRATF. We predicted that the cleaning process would not have significant effect on the NIOSH-approved CBRN respirators after a defined number of decontamination and cleaning iterations.