Overview of the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL)

1. Overview of the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory(NPPTL)

2. NIOSH Divisions & Laboratories • Office of the Director, NIOSH • National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory • Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR) • Office of Extramural Programs (OEP) • Division of Respiratory Disease Studies (DRDS) • Division of Safety Research (DSR) • Health Effects Laboratory Division (HELD) • Education and Information Division (EID) • Division of Applied Research and Technology (DART) • Division of Surveillance Hazard Evaluation and Field Studies (DSHEFS) • Division of Compensation Analysis and Support (DCAS) • Research to Practice (r2p) • Spokane Research Laboratory

3. NIOSH Program Portfolio

4. NPPTL Overview Checklist • Mission and Vision • Organizational and Program Structure • Goals, Initiatives and Metrics • Strategic Tools • Resources

5. NIOSH NPPTL Program Mission An estimated 20 million workers use personal protective equipment on a regular basis to protect themselves from job hazards. Photos courtesy of: MSA MoldexDraeger North by Honeywell The MISSION of the NPPTL is to prevent work-related injury, illness and death by advancing the state of knowledge and application of personal protective technologies (PPT).

6. NPPTL Organizational Structure NPPTL Office of the Director (OD) Policy & Standards Development Branch Surveillance, Communication & Scientific Support Team Technology Evaluation Branch Technology Research Branch

7. NPPTLOffice of the Director Functions • Manages activities conducted by the NPPTL and the NIOSH Personal Protective Technology Program and provides the leadership for projects as they are established. • Leads scientific and programmatic evaluations to provide scientific excellence across the division. • Leads the activities conducted by the National Academies Committee on PPE (COPPE) • Leads emergency planning and response activities such as response to mining disasters or threats of pandemic influenza outbreaks.

8. Surveillance, Communication, & Scientific Support Team Functions • Collect data relevant to work site hazards and worker protection needs • Conduct surveillance of hazards for which PPT are used • Study patterns of PPT Use • Produce and disseminate technical information, research findings, training materials, performance criteria, and recommendations for PPT to improve worker safety. • Develop and implement public health practice initiatives

9. Surveillance, Communication, & Scientific Support Team Functions • Provide statistical support to other branches within NPPTL for protocol design, data analysis, test and evaluation activities • Design and maintain the website for NPPTL and the PPT Program • Implement outreach program for stakeholders within NIOSH sectors • Provide writing and editing support for NPPTL information products • Evaluate the effectiveness of training approaches for stakeholders within the NIOSH sectors

10. Technology Evaluation Branch Functions • Certify performance, quality, reliability and efficacy of respiratory protection devices in accordance with Department of Health and Human Services 42 CFR, Part 84 Federal Regulation • Evaluate and maintain official records on NIOSH-approved respirators • Evaluate quality control plans including manufacturing-site quality system audits • Monitor the quality and performance of certified respirators • Evaluate personal protective technologies and equipment

11. Technology Evaluation Branch Functions • Investigation non-conformance issues such as NIOSH approval rescission, product recalls or retrofits, and public notifications of potentially unsafe PPE products • Investigate field problems associated with NIOSH-certified respirators and other PPE • Conduct PPT failure investigations and analysis, and recommend criteria to improve PPT • Recommend user guidelines: cautions, limitations and restrictions of use

12. Policy and Standards Development Branch Functions • Develop new and revised standards to set forth into the 42 CFR, Part 84 respirator approval regulations • Conduct research where needed in order to support new standards, regulations, and policies relating to NIOSH-certified respirators and other PPE • Assesses research findings; translate them into recommendations for NIOSH policy, regulations, and auditing practices, especially for new PPT or special applications.

13. Policy and Standards Development Branch Functions • Hold public meetings to solicit information concerning user needs and the feasibility for specific technologies • Participate in national and international PPE standard setting committees and establish a national/international database of relevant standards • Determine the public financial and legal impacts of Federal regulation revision • Recommend NIOSH policy relating to respirator approval, including policies for innovative respirator features Photos courtesy of MSA

14. Technology Research Branch Functions • Encourage and conduct research related to innovative technologies that can be applied to PPT • Conduct laboratory and field research to better understand PPT performance, usability, quality, reliability, and efficacy, especially for new or emerging hazards • Recommend criteria and test methods that will lead to improved PPT • Investigate emerging hazards and personal exposures to identify worker PPT needs and technology gaps

15. Technology Research Branch Functions • Conduct research for the effective integration of various PPT and equipment • Recommend performance, usability, quality, reliability, and efficacy criteria for national and international PPT standards and test methods • Respiratory protection research including anthropometrics • Study and improve human/PPT interfaces • Conducts research into the ergonomic, physiologic and psychological stressors and other human factor responses to PPT

16. Strategic Goals • Reduce Exposure to Inhalation Hazards • Reduce Exposure to Dermal Hazards • Reduce Exposure to Injury Hazards 4) Broad-Based PPT Issues Photo courtesy of Morning Pride Fire Gear

17. NPPTL Functional Statement • Provide leadership to NPPTL and the NIOSH PPT Program • Conduct a variety of research studies • Research and develop criteria, standards and guidelines • Manage the NIOSH respirator approval • Produce and disseminate research findings, technical information, training materials, performance criteria, and recommendations • Conduct surveillance and promotes proper selection and use of PPT through guidance and training • Develop, study and assess the effectiveness of communications and training approaches • Develop and maintain effective social marketing activities

18. Tactics Conduct Research on PPT Develop Standards for PPT Certify Respirators and Evaluate PPT Conduct Surveillance Conduct Outreach Evaluate and Assess Programs & Activities

19. NPPTL and PPT Program Logic Model Inputs Transfer Activities r2p Production Inputs Current Activities Planning Inputs Surveillance Evaluations Research Outputs Outcomes Stakeholders Policy and Standards Environmental Assessment NAS COPPE Respirator Certification Sector-cross sector Coordination Communications Surveillance Data Emergency Response External Factors Performance Metrics and Measures

20. NPPTL Resource and Reference Links • Trusted-Source Information Page: http://www.knowits.niosh.gov • Approved Respirator list: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/default.html • Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/npptl • Subscribe to our listserv for the latest PPT News: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/sub-NPPTL.html Photo courtesy of Dupont

21. Quality Partnerships Enhance Worker Safety & Health Visit Us at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/ http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/ppt/ Thank you Disclaimer:The findings and conclusions in this presentation have not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.