NIOSH Respirator Users Notice – for Sandblasting Operations

BERKELEY - The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is updating information on (1) the kinds of respirators approved for abrasive-blast (sandblasting) operations and (2) the NIOSH recommendations for selection and use of these respirators. The information replaces the NIOSH advisory of October 4, 1993.Fed-OSHA recently began a national emphasis program for silica dust, naming sandblasting as a hazardous operation. (NEWS p. 00-6426.)NIOSH says the only respirators that