[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 54 (Thursday, March 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13713-13714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6687]


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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 ([email protected]) 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 
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 [email protected]. 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 
[email protected]. 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 [email protected].
    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