A Survey of Private Sector Respirator Use in the United States: An Overview of Findings

Abstract

Limitations of previous surveys of respirator use led the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to undertake a survey of respirator use and practices among U.S. private sector employers. The survey was mailed to 40,002 private sector establishments in August 2001; the responses were used to develop national estimates. Respirator use was required in 4.5% of establishments and for 3.1% of employees. Of the establishments requiring respirator use, 95% used air-purifying respirators and 17% used air-supplied respirators. Manufacturing; mining (including oil and gas extraction); construction; and agriculture, forestry, and fishing had the highest rates of establishment respirator use. Respirators were used most frequently to protect against dust/mist, paint vapors, and solvents. Large percentages of establishments requiring respirator use had indicators of potentially inadequate respirator programs. Of establishments requiring respirator use, 91% had at least one indicator of a potentially inadequate respiratory protection program, while 54% had at least five indicators. The survey findings suggest that large numbers of employers may not follow NIOSH recommendations and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requirements for the selection and use of respirators, potentially putting workers at risk. The findings will aid efforts to increase the appropriate use of respirators in the workplace.

Silicosis mortality among young adults in the United States, 1968–2004

“…Respiratory protection is the most widely used preventive measure against dust in the construction industry [Tjoe et al, 2003;Doney et al, 2005] ]. These findings suggested that large numbers of employers may not follow NIOSH recommendations and OSHA requirements for the selection and use of respirators, potentially placing workers at risk [Doney et al, 2005].…”

“…These findings suggested that large numbers of employers may not follow NIOSH recommendations and OSHA requirements for the selection and use of respirators, potentially placing workers at risk [Doney et al, 2005].…”

“…In 2001, approximately 48,600 or 12.8% of all establishments in the manufacturing industry (corresponding to 882,500 employees) required respirator use [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2003;Doney et al, 2005]. Of these, approximately 4,400 (9.0%) establishments had no person designated as the program administrator as required by OSHA regulations.…”

A Survey of Respirators Usage for Airborne Chemicals in Korea

“…21% (15) Performance 18% (13) Cost 18% (13) Name value of vendor 18% (13) Worker preference 10% (7) Design of respirator 8% (6) Direction by CEO 5% (4) Pressure of union Manufacturers presume that since carbon fibers adsorb airborne chemicals, this mask can be used as a substitution for a gas/vapor respirator, but this mask should not be used for that purpose such as purifying high concentration of airborne chemicals.…”

“…This survey revealed that twenty-two percent of the workers wore unauthorized dust respirators and seventy-three percent used a knitcover, which seemed to deteriorate face-sealing. In 2001, a survey was undertaken among 40,002 private sector establishments in the United States to ensure that respirator programs adequately protected U.S. workers 4) . In this survey, the authors indicated that the chemicals and allied products manufacturing industry presented a higher potential for worker exposure, thus stimulating more thorough attention to respiratory protection 5) .…”