Release of National Academies Consensus Study Report on Protecting Workers and the Public from Inhalation Hazards

Contact: Stephanie Stevens, yky0@cdc.gov, 202.245.0641

Release of National Academies Consensus Study Report on Protecting Workers and the Public from Inhalation Hazards

Today, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published a Consensus Study Report, Frameworks for Protecting Workers and the Public from Inhalation Hazardsexternal icon, to provide recommendations for the oversight and guidance of respiratory protection in the United States.

Federal partners, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Environmental Protection Agencyexternal icon (EPA), and the Department of Stateexternal icon, as well as the CDC Foundationexternal icon, commissioned this report in response to the evolving need for available and appropriate respiratory protection for workers not already within a workplace respiratory protection program, as well as for the public who could be exposed to inhalation hazards such as viruses, wildfire smoke, and mold as a part of daily life.

“The need for appropriate respiratory protection has dynamically shifted as more workers and the public now must consider the need for this protection in their daily lives,” stated NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. “The recommendations in this report are critical to spurring further action to develop a coordinated and robust plan to address this challenge.”

The purpose of the report’s proposed framework is to provide a unified and authoritative source of information for the effective oversight of the development, approval, and use of respiratory protection. The report includes considerations for the challenges of implementing effective respiratory protection on such a large scale, such as identifying the appropriate respiratory protection for a hazard, as well as product design and availability.

“EPA research shows us that air pollution, such as particulate matter and wildfire smoke, airborne infectious agents, and other inhalation hazards adversely affect communities and at-risk populations. Further, research demonstrates the effectiveness of interventions that reduce risk.  Thus, this research contributes to identifying effective practices aimed at protecting public health,” said Chris Frey, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science Policy for EPA’s Office of Research and Development.

The report identifies seven core functions for both expanded occupational use and personal use of respiratory protection:

• Developing and approving respiratory protective devices
• Ensuring adequate coordination and authorities to protect the target community from inhalation hazards
• Assessing hazards and determining the needs for respiratory protection
• Determining the necessary respiratory protective devices
• Ensuring availability and access pathways for respiratory protective devices
• Engaging, informing, and ensuring access for the target community
• Incorporating lifecycle learning and continuous improvement

Within each function, the report outlines the recommendations of the framework. For a summary of the report, including recommendations, visit the NIOSH Science Blog.

NIOSH is the federal institute that conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. Find more information about NIOSH at www.cdc.gov/niosh.