In late December, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health sent a letter to all respirator manufacturers concerning the acceptance of applications for the testing of scba for use against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents. A copy of this letter was sent to ichiefs, which for more than three years has been calling for niosh to establish standards for both scba and filter mask use in weapons of mass destruction applications.

niosh began accepting applications on Jan. 22 to test and evaluate scba for use against such agents. The letter to the manufacturers informs applicants of additional requirements that a scba must meet for niosh approval and provides procedures for submitting applications to participate in this voluntary program. In developing the procedures and standards, niosh obtained individual input from potential users and potential applicants of these devices, as well as from experts in the field of chemical and biological warfare.

The scba that pass the new standard will be listed as cbrn-Agent Approved. niosh will maintain a list of approved scbas under this program in hard copy and on its Web site, <<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/niosh" target="_blank">www.cdc.gov/niosh>. The list will be maintained as a separate category within the niosh Certified Equipment List. niosh will authorize the use of an additional approval label on apparatus that demonstrate compliance to the cbrn criteria.

Testing of the first approved cbrn scba is expected to be complete in about three months. The new scba standard is the first step; the next step is the development of a standard for filter masks for cbrn use. Richard Metzler, acting director of the niosh National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, told ichiefs that a standard for filter masks for cbrn use is currently planned for release later this year or in early 2003.

“It is imperative that the first reponder community be afforded respiratory protection in responding to terrorist events,” ichiefs President John Buckman said in a statement.