March 29, 2002—Results of a new survey of employers will help the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and others develop new recommendations for the use of respirators in workplaces, and design new research projects to improve the effectiveness of respirators.
NIOSH funded and helped design the voluntary survey with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). BLS administered the survey, tabulated the responses, and reported the results. The findings reported by BLS include the following estimates about private industry establishments that require the use of respirators:
- In the 12 months prior to the survey, respirators were used by 3.3 million employees in 281,800 business establishments, which represent 3.1% of all employees and 4.5% of all business establishments in the US.
- Dust masks were the most commonly used respirators, comprising 71% of all respirators used.
- Paint vapors and dust were the most common agents that air-purifying respirators were worn to protect against, while paint vapors and solvents were the most common agents air-supplied respirators were worn to protect against.
- In 59% of establishments, employees were trained to understand the use and limitations of the respirators they wear, survey respondents reported.
- Material Safety Data Sheets were used by 57% of the establishments to determine the appropriate type of respirator.
The findings of the survey will help NIOSH and others to better understand the current patterns of respirator use in workplaces, and to recommend changes for more effective administration of respirator programs and educational initiatives. The results will also help NIOSH determine where modifications to its respirator certification program may be appropriate.
The survey covered US companies in the private sector that use respirators as a component of ongoing occupational safety and health programs. Respondents included employers from manufacturing, construction, mining, agriculture, health care, and services. For more information on NIOSH’s respirator certification and research programs, visit NIOSH. For further results (pdf format) of the BLS survey, visit BLS.
