Maryann D’Alessandro, Ph.D.Director, National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory

Personal Protective Technology ConformAssessment Working Group Formation aProcess

NIOSH PPT Conformity Assessment Public MeetSeptember 17, 2013

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Irl_6h_55eo
An estimated 20 million workers use person

protective equipment on a regular basis t

protect themselves from job hazards. 

NIOSH PPT Program Mission 

The MISSION of the PPT program is to prevent 

related injury, illness and death by advancing tknowledge and application of personal protecttechnologies (PPT).
PPT CA Working Group Overview

PPT conformity assessment (CA) background

PCAWG successes

Presentation overview
NIOSH Conformity Assessment

Foundational Background

June 2008

NA 

PPT Program 

Evaluation Report:

Five 

Recommendations

February 2011

IOM’s Analysis of 

NA Report 

Recommendation 1: 

Comprehensive 

CA Program

May 2011

NIOSH 

Docket # 237

Public Comment 

on IOM 

CA Report

May 2010

PPT Program’s 

Action Plan to 

Implement

Recommendations
5

“[NIOSH] should work with [stakeholders] to develop, implement, and support conformity assessment processes for non-respirator PPT. CA processes should be commensurate with the level of risk that could result from failure of the PPT to protect the user from workplace hazards.”

“Conformity assessment is key to ensurinthe products we purchase are effective anperform to specifications...” 
Meeting Objectives 

 Report PCAWG process and findings Discuss a NIOSH draft framework sco Initiate a public dialogue in defining a 

national PPT CA framework 
International 

Personal 

Protection, Inc.

International 

Personal 

Protection, Inc.

Over 30 PCAWG Members and Consultant
The PPT Conformity Assessment 

Working Group Project Organization and W

Project 

Definition 

and 

Organization 

(Working 

Group)

Project Management 

(NIOSH/NPPTL Chair)

Terminology

(Sub-Group)

Products 

and 

Standards 

(Sub-Group)

Levels of 

Risk

(Sub-Group)

Compliance 

and 

Enforcement 

(Sub-Group)

Surveillance 

Data

(Sub-Group)

Prioritization 

(Working 

Group)
The PPT Conformity Assessment 

Working Group Project Organization and W

Project 

Definition 

and 

Organization 

(Working 

Group)

Project Management 

(NIOSH/NPPTL Chair)

Terminology

(Sub-Group)

Products 

and 

Standards 

(Sub-Group)

Levels of 

Risk

(Sub-Group)

Compliance 

and 

Enforcement 

(Sub-Group)

Surveillance 

Data

(Sub-Group)

Prioritization 

(Working 

Group)
The PPT Conformity Assessment 

Working Group Project Organization and W

Project 

Definition 

and 

Organization 

(Working 

Group)

Project Management 

(NIOSH/NPPTL Chair)

Terminology

(Sub-Group)

Products 

and 

Standards 

(Sub-Group)

Levels of 

Risk

(Sub-Group)

Compliance 

and 

Enforcement 

(Sub-Group)

Surveillance 

Data

(Sub-Group)

Prioritization 

(Working 

Group)
The PPT Conformity Assessment 

Working Group Project Organization and W

Project 

Definition 

and 

Organization 

(Working 

Group)

Project Management 

(NIOSH/NPPTL Chair)

Terminology

(Sub-Group)

Products 

and 

Standards 

(Sub-Group)

Levels of 

Risk

(Sub-Group)

Compliance 

and 

Enforcement 

(Sub-Group)

Surveillance 

Data

(Sub-Group)

Prioritization 

(Working 

Group)
The PPT Conformity Assessment 

Working Group Project Organization and W

Project 

Definition 

and 

Organization 

(Working 

Group)

Project Management 

(NIOSH/NPPTL Chair)

Terminology

(Sub-Group)

Products 

and 

Standards 

(Sub-Group)

Levels of 

Risk

(Sub-Group)

Compliance 

and 

Enforcement 

(Sub-Group)

Surveillance 

Data

(Sub-Group)

Prioritization 

(Working 

Group)
The PPT Conformity Assessment 

Working Group Project Organization and W

Project 

Definition 

and 

Organization 

(Working 

Group)

Project Management 

(NIOSH/NPPTL Chair)

Terminology

(Sub-Group)

Products 

and 

Standards 

(Sub-Group)

Levels of 

Risk

(Sub-Group)

Compliance 

and 

Enforcement 

(Sub-Group)

Surveillance 

Data

(Sub-Group)

Prioritization 

(Working 

Group)
The PPT Conformity Assessment 

Working Group Project Organization and Wo

Project 

Definition 

and 

Organization 

(Working 

Group)

Project Management 

(NIOSH/NPPTL Chair)

Terminology

(Sub-Group)

Products 

and 

Standards 

(Sub-Group)

Levels of 

Risk

(Sub-Group)

Compliance 

and 

Enforcement 

(Sub-Group)

Surveillance 

Data

(Sub-Group)

Prioritization 

(Working 

Group)
Sample Report in which ANSI/ISEA records were queried

Products and standards database incorpuseful data fields
A strength of the prototype database is thto search for records using a variety of cr
A beta version of the Products and StandaDatabase is being developed
NIOSH is moving toward more structured market activities and results disseminatio

 Develop a consist policy regarding what data to 

collect

 Recommend database format and analysis 

approach

 Determine approach for disseminating informa Post market working group established

 Internal NIOSH and FDA, CPSC, UL, NIST November 5, 2013 meeting in Pittsburgh
NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) Procan serve as a model to develop a “PPE HH

Can search thousands of HHE reports at: http://www.cdc.gov/nio

 “10-day” Letter after 1st site visit Employee notification letters

 personal monitoring results

 Interim Report, as needed Final Report Post final report documents:

 Scientific manuscripts, MMWR articles, 

presentations, NIOSH blog, HHE Facebook page, NIOSH numbered documents, and trade magazines
NPPTL is shifting focus to continue to impPPT leadership by

 most effectively leveraging our laboratory 

resources,

 leading respiratory and non-respiratory 

conformity assessment activities,

 emphasizing PPE compliance improvem

NIOSH will continue to work with the PCAWall partners to refine the PPT CA Framewor
Quality Partnerships Enhance Wor

Safety & Health

Visit Us at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/

Disclaimer:The findings and conclusions in this presentation have not been formally disse

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and should not be constru

any agency determination or policy.

Thank you!