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Respirator Use Epi-Aid- FY07

NOTE: This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.

Objective

  • To assess the protection offered by NIOSH-approved respirators when used outside of a Respiratory Protection Program and identify ways that inadequate protection can be improved
Filtering Face piece Respirator (F F R) with exhalation valve

Applicable Standards

  • None

Key Partners

  • Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH), Office of Public Health (Dr. Raoult Ratard, State Epidemiologist)
  • NPPTL
  • LRB

Stakeholders

  • ISEA and manufacturers
  • Respirator users
  • Members of the public involved in remediation of water-damaged homes

Project Scope


  • Document the prevalence of proper donning of disposable N95 respirators among persons in Orleans Parish.
  • Identify common mistakes made that would reduce the effectiveness of an N95 respirator.
  • Provide education on proper wear and care of disposable N95 respirators.
  • Determine the relationship between use of N95 respirator during reported clean-up activities in water-damaged or moldy buildings and symptom prevalence.

Milestones

  • Request from LDHH for technical assistance
  • Design of survey methods, design and piloting of questionnaire
  • Epi-1 report released, announcing EPI-AID
  • Survey conducted in Orleans Parish by DRDS staff, EIS Officers, and volunteers representing LDHH
  • Epi-2 report released, summarizing preliminary results for requesting agency

Outputs

  • More than 553 persons received education, training on proper use and care of N95 respirators.
  • Manuscript in-press Emerging Infectious Diseases "Respirator donning in post-hurricane New Orleans: Implications for protecting the public from airborne hazards"
  • Accepted abstracts: ATS International Conference - "Respirator Donning in Post-Hurricane New Orleans"; EIS Conference - "Health Effects of Exposure to Water-Damaged Homes Six Months after Hurricane Katrina - New Orleans, Louisiana, March 2006

Outcomes

  • None
Page last modified: July 23, 2007
Page last reviewed: July 23, 2007 (archived document)
Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)


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