Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) takes great pride in our Respiratory Protection Program. We ensure that all our employees who may be exposed to harmful particulates and who require respiratory protection have the proper training and knowledge of the best respiratory protection practices.
In 2012, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) declared September 5 as N-95 Day. In 2019, NIOSH declared the first week of September as Respiratory Protection Week. EHS is dedicating the month of September as Respiratory Protection Awareness Month. Over the last few years, respiratory protection has become a vital and important factor in our everyday lives. However, the basic key factors of respiratory protection in the workplace have remained the same.
During this month, EHS wants to raise awareness and promote proper respiratory practices, focusing on the following:
- The University requires annual online training and qualitative fit testing for all respirator users. Fit test appointments can be made online. Testing is done at the University Employee Occupational Health Clinic (UEOHC).
- Respirator users should check to see if their respirator is NIOSH-approved.
- Employees should know how to properly don and doff their respirators.
- Employees should know how to properly care, store, and clean their respirators and should be sure to inspect respirators for wear and tear or damage and replace if needed.
If additional information or help is needed, please contact Neah Tucker in EHS Workplace Safety.
