Frameworks for Protecting Workers and the Public from Inhalation Hazards

by Health and Medicine Division, Board on Health Sciences Policy, Committee on Respiratory Protection for the Public and Workers Without Respiratory Protection Programs at Their Workplaces, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Olivia C. Yost, Autumn Downey, Jonathan Samet, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering,, Medicine Division, Committee on Respiratory Protection for the Public, Workers Without Respiratory Protection Programs at Their Workplaces

Individuals in the United States and Americans abroad are exposed to inhalation hazards from a variety of sources, and these hazards can have both short- and long-term adverse effects on health. For example, exposure to wildfire smoke, which contains particulate matter and toxic chemicals, can lead to respiratory problems, increased risk for heart attacks, and other adverse health outcomes. Individuals also may be exposed to airborne infectious agents through aerosol or droplet transmission, and as demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the individual and public health consequences of these exposures can be severe. Storms, floods, and hurricanes can increase exposure to moisture-driven hazards, such as mold, and to accidental releases from production facilities or transport vehicles that may result in chemical exposures.The current regulatory system is focused primarily on ensuring access to respiratory protection in occupational settings characterized by well-defined hazards and employer-employee relationships. With this narrow regulatory focus, the respiratory protection needs of the public and many workers are not being met. As climate change increases the incidence and severity of wildfires, hurricanes, floods, infectious disease outbreaks, and other phenomena that impact air quality and human health, it is imperative that the United States ensure that the respiratory protection needs of the public and all workers are met. Recognizing the urgent need to address the gaps in the nation's ability to meet the respiratory protection needs of the public and workers without workplace respiratory protection programs, this report makes recommendations for a framework of responsibilities and authorities that would provide a unified and authoritative source of information and effective oversight for the development, approval, and use of respiratory protection.Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• Abstract
• Summary
• 1 Introduction
• 2 The Regulatory Landscape for Respiratory Protection
• 3 Respiratory Protection in the Workplace
• 4 Respiratory Protection for the Public
• 5 A General Framework for Respiratory Protection Oversight andGuidance
• 6 Respiratory Protection Oversight and Guidance for Workers
• 7 Respiratory Protection Oversight and Guidance for the Public
• Appendix A: Study Approach and Methods
• Appendix B: Review of Factors Necessary to Ensure RespiratoryProtection is Effective for its Intended Use
• Appendix C: The Regulatory Landscape Regarding RespiratoryProtection
• Appendix D: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff