Effect of Upper Strap Downward Displacement on N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirator Fit Factors: A Pilot Study

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Occup Environ Hyg
• Personal Author:
  Roberge, Raymond J. ; Palmiero, Andrew J. ; Liu, Yuewei ; Kim, Jung-Hyun ; Zhuang, Ziqing
• Description:
  Fifteen subjects underwent three replicates of quantitative respirator fit-testing with N95 filtering facepiece respirators that were donned with the upper strap high on the occiput, as per the manufacturers' donning instructions. Each fit-test was immediately followed by repeat fit-testing with the upper strap downwardly displaced to the level of the ear sulcus to determine any change in fit factors that might occur with upper strap downward slippage. A total of 35/45 (78%) initial fit-tests had a passing score (fit factor ≥ 100) with the top strap high on the occiput and 33/35 (94%) of these passed subsequent fit-testing after the top strap was displaced downward to the ear sulcus. Geometric mean fit factors for the initial passed fit-tests, and following downward strap displacement, were 217 ± 1.6 and 207 ± 1.9, respectively (p = 0.64). Downward displacement of the top strap did not significantly impact fit factors of N95 FFRs that had previously passed fit-testing.
• Subjects:
  Adult Article Displacement Equipment Failure Female Fit Factors Humans Male Middle Aged N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators Occupational Exposure Pilot Projects Respiratory Protective Devices Top Strap

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• Source:
  J Occup Environ Hyg. 11(5):338-341.
• Pubmed ID:
  24274974
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC4466548
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  DTN0/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
• Volume:
  11
• Issue:
  5
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:b570563eebf913592687e56b0a8afa4f13063234319c60370e427fb80f33d345
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/31615/cdc_31615_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 590.14 KB ]