Knowledge Center: Respiratory Protection

The New York Times called it a “clunky mask” that “may be the answer to airborne disease.” The Times reports an industrial hygienist at the University of Maryland Medical Center calls it a “Darth Vader” mask. We in the safety equipment industry call it an “elastomeric.” No matter the nomenclature, reusable elastomeric half-mask respirators (EHMR) … Read More

ISEA Members Meet Legislators to Discuss Funding for NIOSH Members of the ISEA Respiratory Protection Product Group met this week at the new ISEA office in Arlington, VA, to discuss pressing issues regarding respiratory protection. Representatives from 3M, Gentex, Kimberley Clark, Honeywell, MSA, Moldex, Scott Safety, and SureWerx were in attendance to review topics such … Read More

The Biden Administration has begun distribution of 400 million NIOSH-approved N95 respirators, to make available free for all US residents. Where Are The N95s Coming From? The N95s will be coming from the United States Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), which is the federal government’s reserve for crucial medicines and supplies for use during a public health emergency. … Read More

ISEA is urging the Biden Administration and members of Congress to help protect themselves from COVID variants with N95 respirators, while also setting an example for American workers and their families. Last week, ISEA members met with the Administration’s COVID-19 response team to discuss further efforts safety equipment manufacturers can take to help end this … Read More

Hundreds of thousands of fake respirators have been seized since the onset of the global pandemic,  opening the eyes of media, government and health, and safety pros. With hospitals (nearly) falling victim to these scams, how can safety pros avoid them? 1.  Consider the full range of approved solutions, including reusable respirators. The tight supply … Read More

We – as an industry, and as a nation – owed it to our healthcare workers to do something different, to improve their working conditions and their respiratory protection… Stephen Bird Director of Marketing Bullard   The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was diagnosed in January 2020. Now, nearly two years later, … Read More

ISEA has joined together with the American Mask Manufacturers Association (AMMA) to request the FDA revoke emergency use authorizations (EAUs) for disposable respirator decontamination and reuse and for use of imported non-NIOSH-approved respirators. In a June 14 joint letter to Interim FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock, ISEA and AMMA note, “FDA’s recent announcements, on April … Read More

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) this week announced additional exemptions from a temporary final rule published in the Federal Register last year. This new notification applies beginning on June 11, 2021. The new Federal Register notice lifts restrictions on certain exports of medical devices, including N95 respirators. However, surgical N95s are still under export … Read More

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is requesting information regarding the deployment and use of elastomeric half-mask respirators (EHMRs) in healthcare settings during the COVID-19 crisis. The Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) plans to purchase EHMRs to be deployed to and used by healthcare organizations in order to diversify the respiratory protection options … Read More

Lynn Feiner Sr. Offering Manager for Air-Purifying and SCBA Respiratory Protection Honeywell   Grab your keys, wallet, and face mask. With the CDC’s recent recommendation, face masks are part of people’s daily essentials when heading to public areas where they will be around others, especially when social distancing cannot be obtained.  With increased demand and … Read More

Since the COVID-19 crisis began, NPPTL has been actively working to address the resulting needs and challenges to ensure that workers in healthcare, and other critical industries, have access to appropriate PPE. The Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented our nation and the world with remarkable challenges. While we work to respond and learn more … Read More

Nicole Randall ISEA Director of Marketing & External Affairs The SAFER task force has released comprehensive guidance for employers to prioritize workplace safety as Americans begin to go back to work. The team has identified universal actions every employer should consider before reopening, and released a series of playbooks with in-depth recommendations for doing so safely. In … Read More

Dan Glucksman ISEA Director of Government Affairs The current demand for respirators around the world is unlike anything I’ve seen in my 20 years in the personal protective equipment industry. Before 2020, it was rare to meet someone outside the industry who understood what PPE or N95 meant, and now these are household terms. I … Read More

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) signed an alliance on June 21, 2018, to provide members, employers, and employees with information on how to properly select, use, maintain, and store personal protective and safety equipment. Through the Alliance, OSHA and ISEA will work together to provide … Read More

Join the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) annual N95 Day webinar on Wednesday September 5, 2018 at 1:00 PM Eastern and get particular about protection against particulates. This year marks NIOSH’s 7th annual N95 Day, and NIOSH is looking forward to sharing the science behind the established guidance and recommendations. For this year’s webinar, there … Read More

ISEA is pleased to support Safe + Sound Week, August 13-19, 2018, a nationwide event to raise awareness and understanding of the value of safety and health programs in workplaces. We encourage ISEA members and employers to sign up to participate in Safe + Sound Week and undertake activities that promote management leadership, worker participation, and a systematic … Read More

By Tracy Haas Depa (Read original article: http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17142-trends-in-personal-protective-equipment-2018) PPE manufacturers and industry insiders discuss technological advancements, what their customers want to know, and what’s on the horizon From hard hats to steel toe boots, personal protective equipment covers workers from head to toe. Safety+Health, with the help of the International Safety Equipment Association, recently reached out … Read More

According to OSHA, trench-related worker deaths have increased. 23 construction workers were killed in trench collapses in 2016, exceeding the combined total from 2014 and 2015. OSHA’s new PSA, featuring Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta, shares important trenching safety tips (Available in English and Spanish): Transcript of OSHA Trenching PSA: The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to the safety … Read More

Are you Ready for Silica Dust? By Don Garvey, 3M Personal Safety Division, (article first appeared in Walls and Ceilings) OSHA has issued a final rule to limit workers’ exposure to respirable crystalline silica (March 2016, OSHA Respirable Crystalline Silica in Construction Regulation – 29 CFR 1926.1153), a common construction material (e.g., concrete, brick, mortar, … Read More

Original article by  Stephanie Valentic, EHS Today, Feb. 9, 2018  Q&A: PPE in Construction A plethora of options are available when it comes to personal protective equipment (PPE). Here’s how America’s Safest Companies choose which PPE to purchase. Hats, gloves, fall arrest systems, boots. The wide world of personal protective equipment (PPE) could be intimidating … Read More

Posted on NIOSH Science Blog November 2, 2017: “So, you want to grow out your beard, but wear a tight-fitting respirator at work? Ensuring the respirator seal is a vital part of respiratory protection practices. Facial hair that lies along the sealing area of a respirator, such as beards, sideburns, or some mustaches, will interfere with … Read More

ISEA experts have compiled cleanup and recovery related resources to help first responders and cleanup crews prepare to work in hazardous conditions after natural disasters and severe weather. These resources focus on proper use and selection of safety equipment and worker safety.

The recent tropical storms left widespread damage along the storm’s path, leaving  “unprecedented” flooding, and “massive” damage to areas. Residents and emergency preparedness and response personnel continue to cope with the weather disaster affecting thousands of square miles and millions of people. The destructive power of severe weather has the ability to create hazardous and … Read More

Each year, NIOSH highlights the importance of the N95 filtering facepiece respirator. For 2017, they are expanding the conversation “Beyond the N95” to some other types of respiratory protection. Join the ISEA as we support the promotion and celebration of N95 Day, on September 5, 2017. We all have one goal here, and that’s to protect the … Read More

By Safety+Health Magazine  “ISEA members and PPE manufacturers discuss new technology, customer concerns and what’s on the horizon in their field.” Properly working and fitting personal protective equipment is critically important for workers, even if it’s meant to be used as the last line of defense. Safety+Health, with help from the International Safety Equipment Association, … Read More

For the past 20 years, completing a course leading to the Qualified Safety Service Personnel (QSSP) designation has been a recognized and sought-after achievement for the sales and marketing representatives of personal protective equipment manufacturers and suppliers. In 2016, the program awarded the designation to the 1,500th graduate of the intensive five-day training program. At that time, Dan Shipp, … Read More

The 2017 Liberty Mutual Report titled:  “2017 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index” highlights top 10 injury causes, including the costs related to falls. “…Overexertion involving outside sources ranked first among the leading causes of disabling injury. This event category, which includes injuries related to lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, carrying or throwing objects, cost businesses $13.79 billion … Read More

What is a QSSP? It’s not a product mark, so don’t look for it on the label. QSSP stands for Qualified Safety Sales Professional, and you’ll find those four letters after the names of safety sales professionals who have prepared themselves to be your partners in prevention of worker injuries and illness. As a safety … Read More

By Rebecca Ghani, Occupational Health [at Work] Occupational Health [at Work] spoke to ISEA president, Daniel Shipp to get the manufacturers’ perspective on PPE for women. Read the article here or view it below.

Historically, PPE has been designed with a man’s body size and shape in mind. But when Safety+Health reached out to the International Safety Equipment Association regarding progress on designing personal protective equipment for women, manufacturers’ representatives were quick to respond. Read the full article here.

How do you know if your personal protective equipment (PPE) will protect you or your workers? To help employers, users of PPE, and others determine which PPE standards must be met by their equipment, NIOSH in collaboration with key partners including the International Safety Equipment Association, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Mine Safety … Read More

Personal protective equipment is designed to keep employees safe every day at work, and is often the last line of defense against injury or death. Safety+Health, with the help of the International Safety Equipment Association, recently asked PPE manufacturers three questions: What PPE trends are happening now, what challenges are your customers reaching out to you … Read More

  According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), N95 Day is a day dedicated to providing the N95 respirator community with educational materials promoting the proper use and selection of this piece of personal protective equipment. If N95s are part of your workplace respiratory protection program, please take some time on N95 … Read More

By EC&M Staff | Electrical Construction and Maintenance Let’s face it, the electrical industry can be a pretty dangerous place to work. Luckily, there’s a lot of great personal protective equipment (PPE) out there to help keep workers as safe as possible while on the job. This photo gallery explores how PPE has evolved from the … Read More

Buyer Beware (Content source: NIOSH) NIOSH has become aware of a counterfeit N95 Respirator on the market. While the TC number and private label holder (KOSTO) are valid, this unapproved unit can be identified by the misspelling of NIOSH on the front of the respirator.  How can you be sure your respirator is truly NIOSH-approved? … Read More

  By MSA Safety How can workplace fatalities and injuries be reduced or, in a perfect world, be totally eradicated? That is precisely what standards are designed to accomplish. Standards are rules designed to provide a work environment free from known dangers or hazards. These standards require the use of certain safe practices and equipment, … Read More