NIOSH Seeks Comments on PPE That Protects Against Fentanyl Exposure

NIOSH will accept further comments from manufacturers and others regarding the expansion of the agency’s PPE-Info database to include personal protective equipment products that protect against fentanyl exposure. In October, the agency announced its intention to develop the database as a tool to connect existing standards with relevant PPE information for the protection of workers against fentanyl and its analogues. Commenters initially had until Nov. 19, 2018, to submit feedback to NIOSH. In response to requests from interested parties, the agency is reopening the comment period through April 1, 2019, allowing extra time for interested manufacturers to indicate their willingness to participate in this expansion of PPE-Info.

NIOSH’s goal is to allow emergency responders and other end users of PPE-Info to find products that are compliant with CDC’s fentanyl PPE guidance. The agency intends to add information about all PPE types associated with the CDC guidance as the information becomes available.

PPE-Info, which NIOSH says is the only U.S. database that is maintained with comprehensive information about national personal protective equipment standards and select product information, allows users to conduct general or advanced-criteria searches of relevant federal standards, associated product types, target occupational groups, basic conformity assessment specifications, and additional pertinent information. PPE-Info also provides guidance for medical response personnel for PPE selection, including information on products that claim compliance with relevant protection standards for a specific response, such as Ebola.