The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) identified concerning statements in the User Instructions provided for several NIOSH Approved® filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs).  These statements instruct the user to modify the FFR in order to improve the fit, which is not correct.  As these concerns are identified, NIOSH will notify the approval holders to correct their User Instructions.

If users in occupational settings that are required to use respiratory protection cannot achieve a proper fit, the respirator configuration should not be modified in any way. Another product should be selected for use.

The complete text of the user notice, NIOSH CA 2022-1047, is at

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/resources/pressrel/letters/respprotect/CA-2022-1047.html

NIOSH notice attached in pdf format.

:

Mike Cockerham

TWU Local 591 NOSH Coordinator

951-318-7062

m.cockerham@local591.com

:

NIOSH_NIOSH Respiratory Protective Device Information - A NIOSH-approved respirator cannot be altered to improve fit 0822.pdf