NIOSH-certified respirator mask remains most popular in healthcare
Now that flu season is officially here, we may feel heightened concern about the cause of our coworker’s, friend’s, or elevator mate’s cough. For healthcare workers, this seasonal concern is of year-round importance.
To protect healthcare workers from exposure to airborne germs and other particulate health hazards, investigators at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) examined the use of respiratory protective devices within hospitals. It is critical to understand the types of respiratory protection healthcare workers use, so that workers receive appropriate training for their device. In addition, this information enables stockpiling of the most widely used devices for public health emergencies, such as the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa.