NIOSH issued a request for information on its approval standards for respiratory protective devices (RPDs) used in health care settings. The agency notes that such devices that are approved by NIOSH and also cleared by the Food and Drug Administration as medical devices are widely used in surgical and non-surgical healthcare environments. There are reports, however, that other NIOSH-approved RPDs that are not FDA-cleared medical devices are also being used to protect health care workers from inhalation hazards, the agency notes. Comments are due April 14, 2014.
