[Federal Register: March 20, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 54)]
[Notices]
[Page 13713-13714]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20mr03-70]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Meeting
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the
following meeting.
Name: Discussions on Research for Comprehensive Test Standards of
Respiratory Devices Used to Protect Workers in Hazardous Environments.
Time and Date: 12:30-5 p.m., April 10, 2003.
Place: Marriott Key Bridge, 1401 Lee Highway, Arlington, Virginia.
Status: This meeting is hosted by NIOSH and will be open to the
public, limited only by the space available. The meeting room will
accommodate approximately 75 people. Interested parties should make
hotel reservations directly with the Marriott Key Bridge (703-524-6400/
800-327-9789) in Arlington, Virginia, and reference the NIOSH/NPPTL
Public Meeting. Interested parties should confirm their attendance to
this meeting by completing a registration form and forwarding it by e-
mail (confserv@netl.doe.gov) or fax (304-285-4459) to the Event
Management Office. A registration form may be obtained from the NIOSH
Homepage (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh) by selecting Conferences and then
Homepage (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh) by selecting Conferences and then
the event.
Requests to make presentations at the public meeting should be
mailed to the NIOSH Docket Officer, Robert A. Taft Laboratories, M/S
C34, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, Telephone 513-533-
8303, Fax 513-533-8285, E-mail niocindocket@cdc.gov. All requests to
present should contain the name, address, telephone number, relevant
business affiliations of the presenter, a brief summary of the
presentation, and the approximate time requested for the presentation.
Oral presentations should be limited to 15 minutes.
After reviewing the requests for presentation, NIOSH will notify
each presenter of the approximate time that their presentation is
scheduled to begin. If a participant is not present when their
presentation is scheduled to begin, the remaining participants will be
heard in order. At the conclusion of the meeting, an attempt will be
made to allow presentations by any scheduled participants who missed
their assigned times. Attendees who wish to speak but did not submit a
request for the opportunity to make a presentation may be given the
opportunity at the conclusion of the meeting, at the discretion of the
presiding officer.
NIOSH is specifically asking for comments on the proposed actions
listed, but would also welcome comments on additional areas that the
commenter believe may need to be addressed. Comments on the topics
presented in this notice and at the meeting should be mailed to the
NIOSH Docket Office, Robert A. Taft Laboratories, M/S C34, 4676
Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, Telephone 513-533-8303, Fax
513-533-8285. Comments may also be submitted by e-mail to
niocindocket@cdc.gov. E-mail attachments should be formatted as
WordPerfect 6/7/8/9 or Microsoft Word. Comments should be submitted to
NIOSH no later than June 1, 2003, and should reference docket number,
NIOSH-008 in the subject heading.
Purpose: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
is conducting research for new comprehensive standards for
multifunction Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs). These
respiratory protective devices may include protection against other
types of threats or hazards. Some devices can include vision
protection, hearing protection, or head protection as well as isolation
from environmental contaminants, making them multifunctional. Such
devices
[[Page 13714]]
could be very useful to emergency responders, miners, and construction
workers, to name a few.
The purpose of this meeting is to provide an opportunity for an
exchange of information between NIOSH and respirator manufacturers,
industry representatives, labor representatives, and others with an
interest in respiratory protection. Attendees will be given an
opportunity to ask questions and submit verbal and written comments
they wish to have included in the regulatory record.
Besides providing respiratory protection, multifunction PAPRs must
allow wearers to perform their assigned duties without posing
additional burdens. Vision, communications, heat exchange, and ability
to fit into tight places must meet meaningful testing criteria to have
reasonable assurance that they will be acceptable. In addition, loose-
fitting PAPR equipment must be able to supply enough filtered air that
the wearer does not breathe contaminated air during heavy exertion.
The problem is how to objectively evaluate candidate equipment.
Multifunction PAPRs must be evaluated against objective, scientifically
valid tests in order to be certified by the Government as reasonably
meeting minimum standards. Currently, appropriate standards are not
available. Such standards, which address all the elements that go into
making the equipment multifunctional, must be developed and validated.
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss comprehensive test standards
for all elements of multifunction PAPRs.
NIOSH has not determined the final content of its research but is
considering that test standards will be needed for:
(1) Respiration;
(2) Vision;
(3) Communications;
(4) Wear Ability;
(5) Hearing Protection.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Event Management, P.O. Box 880,
3610 Collins Ferry Road, Morgantown, WV 26507, Telephone 304-285-4750,
Fax 304-285-4459, E-mail confserv@netl.doe.gov.
The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been
delegated the authority to sign Federal Register Notices pertaining to
announcements of meetings and other committee management activities,
for both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Dated: March 14, 2003.
Alvin Hall,
Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-6687 Filed 3-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P