September is here, and we National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) employees have put away our Labor Day picnics to get back to the work of protecting the American labor force…. And, of course, celebrating N95 Day! Right?
Yes and no. You see, this year is special. This year marks an important anniversary in the history of respiratory protection. One century ago, the U.S. Bureau of Mines initiated the first respirator certification program in the United States. Today, the NIOSH National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) carries out those evaluation and testing duties in order to protect workers who rely on personal protective equipment (PPE). Therefore, as we recognize this important milestone, we are also using this event as an opportunity to expand N95 Day into an annual observance that will include all types of NIOSH-approved respirators.