The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is soliciting public comment on the need to establish centers of excellence to address research and practice needs in the area of personal protective technology (PPT), including personal protective equipment.

Within NIOSH, the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory is charged with preventing disease, injury, and death among the millions of American workers who rely on PPT. To accomplish this mission, NIOSH conducts scientific research, leads PPT conformity assessment efforts, develops guidance and authoritative recommendations, disseminates information, and responds to requests for workplace health hazard evaluations.

Personal protective technology—such as respirators, protective clothing, gloves, eyewear, hearing protection, helmets, fit testing equipment, and fall harnesses—is instrumental in protecting the health and safety of workers in the United States and globally. Due to the comprehensive and inter-/multi-disciplinary nature of PPT, innovative thinking and approaches are necessary to advance and maximize its role in enhancing occupational safety and health.

Comments may be submitted through either of the following two methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov (follow the instructions for submitting comments), or

• Mail: NIOSH Docket Office, 1090 Tusculum Avenue, MS C-34, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226-1998.

Instructions: All written submissions received in response to this notice must include the agency name (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS) and docket number (CDC-2021-0115; NIOSH-343). All relevant comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided.

Released by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.  Click HERE for source.