A Discussion Paper, Streamlining Regulatory Oversight of Respirators Used in Health Care Settings will Improve Worker Protection, was recently published in the National Academy of Medicine’s NAM Perspectives journal by respiratory experts outside of the federal government. This paper highlights continued confusion amongst interested parties including health care organizations and manufacturers seeking approval regarding federal regulations and guidance on the use of air-purifying respirators (APRs) in health care settings. This confusion results from multiple regulatory oversight processes and is creating barriers to the use of certain NIOSH Approved® respirators, raising the cost of effective respiratory protection, and placing the
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