Respiratory Protection in the Workplace – Resources for Health Care

Links to respiratory protection resources specifically for health care workplaces are provided below as a service and do not imply endorsement of any particular product, company or organization by the California Department of Public Health. Links to general respiratory protection resources will also be useful to health care workplaces and are provided on a separate page.

Respiratory Protection Resources for Health Care

Administrative Resources for Health Care

Training and Educational Materials for Health Care

Public Health Guidance for Influenza and Respirator Use in Health Care Settings

Respiratory Protection Resources for Health Care

• Respirator Program Toolkit for Hospitals – 44-page guide developed by CDPH to assist respirator program administrators
• Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Standard – CDPH webpage with standard and its appendices

Administrative Resources for Health Care

• Written Respiratory Protection Program Template (Word)  – customizable for your hospital’s program (developed by CDPH)  
• Sample PAPR (powered-air purifying respirator) Program Flow Chart (PDF)  – developed by a hospital in California

Training and Educational Materials for Health Care

• Respirator Selection Guide for Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (PDF)  – 2-page quick reference developed by CDPH
• Fit Testing N95 Respirators in Health Care Facilities (PPT)  – presentation developed by CDPH
• CDC Tools for Protecting Healthcare Personnel – video and slideshow on selecting and using personal protective equipment, Centers for Disease Control
• Guidance for the Selection and Use of PPE (PPT, 1.5MB)  – developed by CDC
• Listing of approved surgical N95 respirators with donning/doffing instructions – National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• NIOSH Science Blog: N95 Respirators and Surgical Masks – discussion of respirator and surgical mask history, fit and filter performance
• OSHA video: Difference Between Respirators and Surgical Masks (WMV, 13MB)  ... Spanish
• OSHA video: Respiratory Protection for Health Care Workers  - download video or watch on YouTube
• OSHA Fact Sheet: Respiratory Infection Control: Respirators Versus Surgical Masks – one-page explanation of when to use respirators and surgical masks
• University of Wisconsin PAPR Training Workshop Presentation (PDF)  - training on powered-air purifying respirators (PAPRs)
• APIC-MDH PAPR Donning and Doffing Poster (PDF)  – produced by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology and the Minnesota Department of Health
• Sample Mask and Respirator Flyer (PDF)  – one-page flyer adapted from materials provided by Mercy General Hospital, Sacramento, CA describing facemasks, N95 respirators and PAPRs and when they should be used

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Public Health Guidance for Influenza and Respirator Use in Health Care

• CDC Prevention Strategies for Seasonal Influenza in Healthcare Settings
• CDPH Guidance on Influenza Prevention (PDF)  - (11/5/2010)
• Cal/OSHA Guidance for the 2010-2011 Influenza Season (PDF)  - (11/5/2010)
• Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers – Federal OSHA

Respirator Use in Health Care Workplaces

Respiratory Protection in the Workplace main page

Occupational Health Branch home page