DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2000-122
February 2000

Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Complete Report in PDF (2000-122.pdf, 595K)

Table of Contents

Executive Summary i-ii

Purpose and Opening Remarks iii

Workshop Sessions 1–24

Session #1
Chemical and/or Biological Incidents: Associated Hazards 1–6

Plenary Presentations 1–2
Workgroup Discussions 2–6

Session #2
Responders and Their Respiratory Protection Needs 7–11

Plenary Presentations 7–8
Workgroup Discussions 8–11

Session #3
Respirator Standards for Chemical and/or Biological Incident Responses 12–19

Plenary Presentations 12–13
Workgroup Discussions 13–19

Session #4
Chemical and/or Biological Response Plans:
Public Health and Medical Community Concerns 20–24

Plenary Presentation 20
Workgroup Discussions 21–24

Conclusions and Suggested Activities 25-26

Appendices

A. Plenary Speaker Abstracts and Biographies 27-42
B. Registrants and Attendees 43-60
C. Glossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms 61-64
D. Chemical and Biological Agents of Concern 65-72
E. Interagency Equipment Standardization Board Members 73-76

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Since publication of Presidential Initiative 62, municipal, state, and national guard responder groups have been developing response plans and establishing the procedural and equipment infrastructures to capably respond to chemical and/or biological terrorism and other crisis situations.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) co-sponsored this technical Workshop together with the Department of Defense (DOD) – US Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Workshop objectives were to: 1) identify and understand the hazards associated with chemical and/or biological incidents, 2) identify the different responders and their respiratory protection needs, 3) determine which respirators and selection criteria are currently being utilized for response to these types of incidents, and 4) determine public health and medical community concerns which must be considered in developing a standard for chemical and/or biological respiratory protective devices.

This Workshop provided a forum for over 140 representatives from 63 different emergency responder, fire fighter, domestic preparedness, equipment manufacturing, federal research, and state and federal regulatory organizations. Participants openly discussed issues, exchanged information, and learned about current respiratory protection issues associated with incidents involving chemical and biological agents. The attendees were subject-matter experts, stakeholders, and partners with a common interest of assuring proper respiratory protection for emergency responders and other worker groups faced with the responsibility of responding to incidents involving chemical and/or biological threats.

Presentations were given by representatives of government agencies, private laboratories, scientific experts, and rescue organizations. Participants explored the expertise and responsibilities of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Domestic Preparedness Office (NDPO), the Interagency Board for Standardization and Interoperability, NIOSH, DOD, SBCCOM, New York City Office of Emergency Management, and others.

Attendees gained a better understanding of the kinds of chemical and/or biological threats that are possible. Sources for obtaining further information were identified. The need for additional research, guidelines, and standards were identified in the following areas:

• exposure limits and technology for assessing chemical and/or biological concentrations of response scenarios;
• improved chemical and/or biological detection and monitoring capabilities;
• reliable information with which to define acute vs. chronic doses and their immediate and long-term health effects;
• applicability of military data.

Workshop participants believed that everyone associated with response to a chemical and/or biological incident needs to be adequately protected and that the level of protection required will vary. The diverse group of emergency responders potentially include: local public safety workers (fire fighters, police, HazMat, bomb squad, Emergency Medical Service [EMS]); local government specialty response (Department of Environmental Protection [DEP], Department of Highways [DOH], county emergency planning personnel, public health officials); local utility workers (electric, gas, water); state government specialty response (national guard, state emergency planning personnel, Department of Environmental Resources [DER], public health officials); federal law enforcement personnel (FBI, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms [ATF]); Public Health Service (PHS) (Disaster Medical Assistance Team [DMAT], National Medical Response Team [NMRT], Disaster Mortuary Team [DMORT]); private clinics and hospital workers.

The conference identified immediate responder needs in the following areas:

• NIOSH certification of air-purifying respirators (APR), powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR), self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), and personal protective equipment (PPE) for use against these threats;
• training assistance with PPE and respirator selection in domestic preparedness planning;
• alternatives to SCBA for certain threat scenarios;
• assurance that SCBA will survive an exposure to chemical warfare agents and critical components will not be degraded;
• implementation of DOD respirator standards, tests, and qualification requirements where applicable;
• identification of appropriate cartridge/cannister performance tests; and
• relevant protection factor (PF) protocols and valid assigned protection factor (APF) assessment methods.

The Workshop was closed with assurance that NIOSH, DOD, and OSHA will continue working with partners to investigate the funding and collaborations needed to develop certification standards for chemical and/or biological respiratory equipment and the other issues raised. Certainly, what can be achieved will be tempered or accelerated by the funding and resources that are or will become available. This report will be available upon request and may be used by attendees to form future partnerships and collaborations to address this emerging national issue.