Disclosure and Fit Capability of the Filtering Facepiece Respirator.

The filtering facepiece air-purifying respirator is annually purchased in the tens of millions and widely used for worker protection from harmful airborne particulates. The workplace consumers of this safety product, i.e.

A must for NIOSH: certify fit performance of the half mask particulate respirator.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has proposed to amend the certification rules for half mask air-purifying particulate respirators. The amendment would require the certified respirator to fit a minimum percentage of the intended users. The fail/pass rate for a respirator fitting a worker population has not been part of the certification process for particulate respirators since 1995.

Surveillance of Washington OSHA exposure data to identify uncharacterized or emerging occupational health hazards.

Chemical substance exposure data from the Washington State Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) program were reviewed to determine if inspections conducted as a result of a report of a hazard from a complainant or referent may alert the agency to uncharacterized or emerging health hazards. Exposure and other electronically stored data from 6890 health inspection reports conducted between April 2003 and August 2008 were extracted from agency records. A total of 515 (7%) inspections with one or more personal airborne chemical substance samples were identified for further study.

Results of inspections in health hazard industries in a region of the state of Washington.

Results from state of Washington Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) health inspections were reviewed to characterize the level of control that existed at the work sites, identify common problems, and assess the success of targeting programs in finding and correcting uncontrolled health hazards. Data were obtained from 170 inspections conducted by industrial hygienists in a four-county area in 12 industries, including 10 that were targeted. Inspection data were accessed through the use of electronic databases and inspection reports then summarized by the following industries: bathtub refinishing, carbide tool and saw sharpening, fibercement siding installation, furniture refinishing, health care clinics, janitorial floor waxing service, landscaping, lawn maintenance, tree service, road construction, stone countertop fabrication, truck bed lining, warehouse and cold storage, and wood floor finishing.

Work-related asthma in the spray-on truck bed lining industry.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify work-related asthma (WRA) workers' compensation claims associated with methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) exposure in the spray-on truck bed lining industry and estimate the asthma incidence rate in this industry.

Methods: The authors conducted a descriptive study of workers' compensation claims meeting an established surveillance case definition for WRA.

Results: Eight WRA workers' compensation claims were identified in the truck bed lining industry in Washington State for a claims incidence rate of 200 per 10,000 full-time equivalent.

MDI Exposure for Spray-On Truck Bed Lining.

Worker exposure to MDI (methylenediphenyl isocyanate) in the sprayed-on truck bed lining industry was assessed by examining Washington State OSHA inspection files and industrial insurance records. The industry uses MDI to form a protective urethane coating on pick-up truck beds. The lining is applied by a worker using a handheld spray gun with application equipment at temperatures and pressures specified by the urethane supplier.

Occupational carbon monoxide violations in the State of Washington, 1994-1999.

Occupational exposure to carbon monoxide continues to cause a number of injuries and deaths. This study reviewed the State of Washington OSHA inspection records for occupational safety or health violations related to carbon monoxide for the time period 1994-1999 to assess the agency's efforts and further identify and characterize causative factors. Inspection data were also compared with carbon monoxide claims data from a companion study to determine if the agency was visiting the most at risk work operations.

Occupational carbon monoxide poisoning in the State of Washington, 1994-1999.

Carbon monoxide poisonings continue to be significant and preventable for a number of work operations. This study assesses occupational carbon monoxide morbidity and mortality for the state of Washington based on a review of workers' compensation records for the years 1994-1999. The study characterizes sources, industries, and causative factors, and further attempts to identify work operations most at risk.