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STATUS REPORT, AUGUST 2006: NIOSH Evaluates Its Standards
for Testing and Certifying Self-contained Self-rescuers; While Process
Continues, All Current Certifications Remain in Good Standing
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducts
a long-standing program for testing and certifying different types of
respiratory protection devices. The requirements of this program, which
define the process that NIOSH follows in carrying out its authority,
are set forth in 42 CFR Part 84.
Under the program, respirator manufacturers
may voluntarily request NIOSH certification for a new product. NIOSH
conducts laboratory testing of sample units, reviews the technical specifications
for the product, and evaluates the manufacturer's quality assurance program.
If a respirator passes this testing and evaluation, NIOSH grants permission
for the device to be labeled as "NIOSH certified." This certification
means that, based on the results of the NIOSH testing, the device is
expected to perform as it purports to perform, if deployed and used appropriately
as part of a formal workplace safety and health program, and in accordance
with the manufacturer's instructions.
One type of respirator tested and
certified by NIOSH is the self-contained self-rescuer (SCSR). Recent
discussions have focused increased public attention on SCSRs as a result
of the use of SCSRs in underground mines, where they are intended to
provide a temporary source of breathing-air to miners during escape from
an emergency. One area of attention involves a current interaction among
NIOSH and its stakeholders to evaluate the standards to which SCSRs are
tested by NIOSH. The current status of this evaluation is as follows:
- Five
models of SCSRs are currently certified by NIOSH for use as escape
devices in underground mines. These models are the CSE SR-100, OCENCO
EBA 6.5 AND M20, DRAEGER OXY-K Plus, and the MSA LIFE-SAVER 60. All
five of these certified devices have NIOSH approvals in good standing
under our current certification program. No SCSRs have been tested
by NIOSH to standards other than those currently in effect.
- In 2003, NIOSH began to work with
stakeholders by holding public meetings to identify and pursue actions
that will result in improved SCSR performance and reliability. NIOSH
held public meetings on April 10, 2003, and April 24, 2003, to share
concepts on updating current SCSR certification requirements and to
solicit input from manufacturers, mine operators, miners, and other
stakeholders. Details about the public meetings are available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/standardsdev/other/meetings.html.
- The concepts under consideration are based on NIOSH technical expertise
and experience in the respirator certification, experience from long
term field evaluations that involved samplings of units that have been
deployed in the field, and stakeholder input. At this time, it is impossible
to say what the final standards may contain, to what extent any proposed
changes may reflect specific NIOSH technical findings, how any proposed
changes may differ from current requirements, or how any proposed changes
may affect current certifications.
- NIOSH will keep stakeholders fully
informed as the process continues. NIOSH plans to hold public meetings
to pursue these discussions. The time and place of those meetings will
be announced in a forthcoming Federal Register notice and on the NIOSH
webpage. We invite our stakeholders and partners to provide input and
recommendations by submitting comments to the NIOSH Docket Office.
Comments should reference docket number NIOSH-005, Closed-circuit Self-contained
Escape Breathing Apparatus. The address for sending comments is: NIOSH
Docket Office, Reference: NIOSH DOCKET -005, Robert A. Taft Laboratories,
M/S C34, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226; Telephone 513-533-8303,
Fax 513/533-8285.
- In addition to the evaluation of the testing and certification
standards, NIOSH is pursuing several other actions that will help to
further the public dialogue on SCSRs. More information on those initiatives
will be posted on the NIOSH web page shortly.
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