The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Help has put out a proposed notice of rulemaking to establish total inward leakage requirements for half-mask air-purifying particulate respirators.

More than 3.3 million private sector employees in the United States wear respirators for certain work tasks. These workers depend on these respirators to protect them from asphyxiation or chronic health effects. The respirators must be designed and manufactured to be reliable and must test for compliance to a specified level of performance for the workers to avoid serious injury or death.

NIOSH has identified this issue as a top priority among the respirator certification program and is intended to strengthen assurance of workers who actively use these respirators.

Click here to read the full notice in the Federal Register.