Draft Document for Public review and Comment
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) requests information on NPPTL Facial Anthropometrics Research Roadmap, NIOSH Docket Number
NIOSH-111.
The information contained in this document is still in draft form
and as such should not be considered as a final statement of
NIOSH policy.
NPPTL Facial Anthropometrics Research Roadmap
In 2001, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) recognized the difficulties inherent in using the old military data and initiated a study to develop an anthropometric database of the heads and faces of civilian respirator users to update the respirator fit test panels. A total of 3,997 subjects were recruited from industries and public services in which workers routinely or occasionally use respirators. Subjects were obtained at 41 separate sites, located in 8 states from the east to west coasts of the United States. Subjects were measured for 21 dimensions through the use of traditional measurement tools, and 1013 of the total were scanned with a state-of-the-art 3-D laser scanning system. Based on the data collected, NPPTL researchers developed two new panels for half- and full-face respirator fit testing. One of the new panels (NIOSH bivariate panel) included the same linear measurements used for the presently-used panel developed for the respirator certification program by the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL panel). The other panel recommended, was based on establishing the appropriate facial features by using principal component analysis (PCA) to identify the combination of facial dimensions that best represented the variation among the faces in the data set.
NPPTL identified the importance of validating the quality, relevance and potential impact of the survey conducted and the recommendations being made prior to incorporating the recommended panel updates into the respirator certification program. Because of the potential implications on the respirator users, manufacturers, and respirator market, the NPPTL commissioned the Institute of Medicine through the National Academies to review the 2004 NIOSH report, "Assessment of the NIOSH Head-and-Face Anthropometric Survey of U.S. Respirator Users." NPPTL requested the committee to examine the adequacy and validity of the NIOSH study, the data collected, and the recommended revisions to the set (panel) of facial characteristics (anthropometric features) that are to be used in testing the fit of respirators. This review examined both the content and the form of the study, the appropriateness of its sample and its sample methodology, and the adequacy of the resultant data. Issues the IOM was to address concerned whether the revised panel of facial characteristics is representative of the diverse U.S. workforce and the adequacy of the anthropometric features and parameters considered in the revised panel. NPPTL requested the IOM make recommendations concerning additional analyses that the PPT Program might undertake to obtain further information regarding the revisions to the respirator panel.
The IOM completed the study and issued to NPPTL the preliminary report in January 2007 and the final report in April 2007. The IOM provided three overarching conclusions and a series of recommendations for maximizing the opportunity to incorporate the panel in current respirator certification. The committee also provided recommendations regarding future research opportunities. The three overarching conclusions are stated here:
- “The results of the NIOSH –sponsored Anthrotech study represent a clear improvement over the anthropometric data and corresponding LANL fit-test face panels that have been used since the 1970s;
- nonetheless, the NIOSH-sponsored Anthrotech study has a number of weaknesses that limit its effectiveness and reliability; and
- there are certain steps that should be taken to address the weaknesses, in order to move toward more effective testing and certification of respirators in the future.”
View the complete IOM report
External Link: http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3740/29900/43806.aspx
NPPTL is responding to the IOM report by developing an action plan for addressing the issues and recommendations described in the report. The action plan will provide a long-term strategy for facial anthropometrics and respirator fit research at NPPTL. The action plan will also describe how to implement research to practice. This draft action plan was developed by:
- analyzing the IOM recommendations to determine if existing data is available to make decisions on whether the recommendations could and/or should be implemented or not;
- reviewing on-going and proposed NPPTL research projects; and
- reviewing on-going research in NIOSH, academia, government, and industry related to anthropometrics and respirator fit.
The draft action plan and appendices for review and comment are:
Timeline to finalize the action plan is described as follows:
- Detailed draft action plan posted to NPPTL website (July/August 2007)
- Open docket to solicit comments for 90 days (September – November 2007)
- Revise action plan based on comments received (January 2008)
The final action plan will be used to prioritize and select future NPPTL research projects including funding, staffing, and upgrading laboratory capabilities.
Comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. EDT on March 31, 2008.
To submit comments regarding these draft publications, please use
one of these options:
- Send NIOSH comments using this online form.
- Fax comments to the NIOSH Docket Office: 513-533-8285
- Send by Mail to:
NIOSH Mailstop: C-34
Robert A. Taft Lab.
4676 Columbia Parkway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
NIOSH Draft Documents for Public Review
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