Protect Yourself Against Tuberculosis-- A Respiratory Protection Guide for Health Care Workers |
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A NIOSH Educational Document |
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If you need additional information, you can contact NIOSH at:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Publications Dissemination
4676 Columbia Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998
FAX number: (513) 533-8573
or
visit the NIOSH Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html
December 1995
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 96-102
The use of respirators in health care is a relatively new but important step in the efforts to prevent the transmission of TB. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) created "Protect Yourself Against Tuberculosis -- A Respiratory Protection Guide for Health Care Workers" to answer questions about respirator use in the health care industry. This booklet is designed to serve as a quick reference for health care workers employed in a variety of settings and with varied educational backgrounds. It should be regarded as a complement to, not a substitute for, the required respiratory protection program.
NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the Department of Health and Human Services and is the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses. NIOSH is also responsible for certifying respirators used in the workplace.
In June of 1995 NIOSH updated its respirator certification requirements. As a result new respirators used for the prevention of TB provide better protection to health care workers and are considerably less expensive. Call 1-800-35-NIOSH for more information on the new respirator standard or to request a complimentary copy of "The NIOSH Guide to the Selection and Use of Particulate Respirators Certified Under 42 CFR 84."
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NIOSH wishes to thank the health care workers and their agencies that provided significant and valuable input into this document.
Mention of any company name or product does not constitute endorsement by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
IV. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Appendix I: Other Sources of Information
Appendix II: Required Respirator Program Elements