This September 3-6, 2024, NIOSH is celebrating the annual Respiratory Protection Week. Each year, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) continue respirator research to address knowledge gaps and use this observance week to share such research findings and educational tools to promote proper respiratory protection practices. This week highlights the importance of respiratory protection in the workplace and provide resources to make educated decisions when selecting and wearing a respirator.

Although its use is considered as the “last line of defense” in the hierarchy of controls approach, respiratory protection has always been a key component of personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect workers from occupational airborne hazards. Over the last few years, more people have become aware of how important respirators are. NIOSH has recognized September 5 as N95 Day since 2012, a day to bring awareness to the importance of respiratory protection, specifically N95. Since 2019 during the commemoration of NIOSH’s 100 Years of Respiratory Protection as an important milestone, NIOSH utilizes this event as an opportunity to expand N95 Day into a more inclusive observance to occur annually during the first week of September.

This week, NIOSH is hosting several webinars and is joining many partners to spread the word via social media and information products.

For more info: Respiratory Protection Week 2024