Disposable respirator approval must be obtained from which agency?

Disposable respirator approval must be obtained from which agency?

• A. NIOSH
• B. OSHA
• C. EPA
• D. FDA

Answer: (A)

Approval for disposable respirators is handled by NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. They test and certify respirators for filtration efficiency and breathing resistance, ensuring models meet performance standards before they can be marketed for work use. The certification appears on labeling and the NIOSH Certified Equipment List, with designations like N95 stemming from this approval. OSHA enforces the use of approved respirators in the workplace but does not approve products itself. EPA and FDA have different regulatory scopes (environmental protection and medical devices, respectively) and do not handle standard disposable respirator approvals. So the correct agency is NIOSH.

Approval for disposable respirators is handled by NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. They test and certify respirators for filtration efficiency and breathing resistance, ensuring models meet performance standards before they can be marketed for work use. The certification appears on labeling and the NIOSH Certified Equipment List, with designations like N95 stemming from this approval. OSHA enforces the use of approved respirators in the workplace but does not approve products itself. EPA and FDA have different regulatory scopes (environmental protection and medical devices, respectively) and do not handle standard disposable respirator approvals. So the correct agency is NIOSH.