Examining the Roles of Training, Fit Testing, and Safety Climate on User Confidence in Respiratory Protection: A Case Example with Reusable Respirators in Health Delivery Settings

Details

• Personal Author:
  Edirisooriya M ; Haas, Emily J.
• Description:
  A lack of confidence in the efficacy of respiratory protection can contribute to uncertainty among workers and cast doubt on workplace safety. To date, no research has been conducted to study and understand the introduction of elastomeric half-mask respirators (EHMRs)-without exhalation valves (EVs) or with exhalation valve filters (EVFs), both representing new designs that address source control-in the workplace. To study this issue, researchers collaborated with partners at 32 health delivery settings that received EHMRs from the Strategic National Stockpile during the COVID-19 pandemic. EHMR users (n = 882) completed an online survey between October 2021 and September 2022. Analyses demonstrated that employees were statistically significantly more confident in the efficacy of EHMRs with no EV/with an EVF (including the efficacy in protecting the user from COVID-19) if they had been fit tested and received training. Respondents were also statistically significantly more confident in the efficacy of their EHMR if they had a more positive perception of their organization's safety climate. The results provide insights for tailored fit testing and training procedures as manufacturers continue to improve respirator models to enhance worker comfort and use. Results also show that, even during a public health emergency, the role of safety climate cannot be ignored as an organizational factor to support worker knowledge, attitudes, and participation in health and safety behaviors specific to respirator use. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Communicable Diseases Disaster Planning Elastomers Emergencies Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Safety Staff Development
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Elastomeric Half-mask Respirator COVID-19 Elastomeric Half-mask Respirators Emergency Preparedness Fit Testing Healthcare Health Care Facilities Program Sustainability Respirator Testing Respiratory Protection Reusable Respirator Safety Climate Training

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• ISSN:
  2071-1050
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  NPPTL - National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  15
• Issue:
  17
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20068499
• Citation:
  Sustainability 2023 Sep; 15(17):12822
• Contact Point Address:
  Emily J. Haas, National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15236
• Email:
  ejhaas@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Sustainability
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9fdac66966ddd543dc07a013ba961b1f542b050ac1bfc66e75873bc41e99a860a2278761d56ebd10dc8c726071dd454e4afff8be9103ed6bda49ff7b00f2a78d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/207115/cdc_207115_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 256.55 KB ]