Niosh Respirator

In 1970 under President Richard M. Nixon, Congress created the Occupational Safety and Healthy Act (OSHA).1 Its mission was and is to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths by enforcing standards for the workplace.1 This same act created the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as a research agency focusing on health and safety in the workplace.1

NIOSH was established to help provide safe and healthful working conditions by providing information and training in such diverse fields as epidemiology, medicine, industrial hygiene, psychology, chemistry, and engineering.1 NIOSH provides guidance around the world for translating findings into better products for safety and health.

NIOSH respirators are those that meet the standards outlined by NIOSH.11 Unlike OSHA, which regulates and can fine or close a company, NIOSH recommends.1 They can issue 'alerts' to companies about occupational hazards before OSHA has incorporated the idea into its legally-binding standards.