NIOSH's part of the federal shutdown slows pace of safety equipment innovation

FAIRMONT — Workers who rely on the newest safety equipment may face a delay in getting their hands on it as the government shutdown ends its second week.

Senior Director for Policy Dan Glucksman of the International Safety Equipment Association, said the agencies tasked with evaluating and certifying new respirators can’t do their work. That’s creating a backlog of safety equipment instead of getting it into the hands of workers who rely on respirators to safely work in toxic environments. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health’s Respirator Approval Program evaluates new respirators. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Mine Safety and Health Administration also play a role in ensuring a safe working environment for workers.

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