PPE CASE – Point-of-Use Assessment for Self-Contained Self-Rescuers Randomly Sampled from Mining Districts: Second Phase
2017
NPPTL Report Number P2018-0102
NIOSH’s point-of-use assessments for self-contained self-rescuers (SCSRs) found that mine operators are largely compliant with SCSR manufacturer-specified requirements and the devices tested appear to be sufficiently designed for mining use conditions.
This report presents findings from the second phase SCSR long-term random (LTR2) testing conducted between January 2012 and June 2013. Prior to collection, MSHA provided a copy of their SCSR inventory from which NIOSH compiled a statistically significant random list of 719 SCSR units. From this random list, NIOSH targeted 536 SCSRs for collection. NIOSH returned 379 SCSRs to the laboratory for testing when the collection effort ended for LTR2. NIOSH subsequently tested the 377 SCSR units that passed the manufacturers’ recommended visual inspection using an automated breathing and metabolic simulator (ABMS). The tests performed in this study are not approval tests; however, a certified product investigation process (CPIP) may be opened if the products perform poorly during testing at NPPTL, to determine the impact of observed performance degradation or nonconformance of a deployed SCSR.
Suggested Citation
NIOSH [2017]. PPE CASE: point-of-use assessment for self-contained self-rescuers randomly sampled from mining districts: second phase. By Walbert G, Monaghan W. Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NPPTL Report Number P2018-0102.