Which approval indicates that a respirator protects against specified contaminants?

• A. OSHA
• B. FDA
• C. NIOSH
• D. MMA

Answer: (C)

Understanding respirator protection hinges on who confirms performance. The key is that a respirator must be certified by NIOSH before it’s marketed for protection against specific contaminants. NIOSH conducts rigorous testing to verify a respirator’s filtration efficiency for particular particles or gases and assigns designations (like N95 for non-oil-based particulates, with corresponding oil-resistant variants). This certification is what guarantees the respirator will perform as specified in real-world use.

OSHA is the workplace-safety enforcement agency that ensures employers follow rules about when and how respirators are used; it doesn’t issue the certification itself. FDA handles medical devices and approvals not focused on respirator filtration performance. MMA isn’t related to respirator certification. So the approval indicating protection against specified contaminants comes from NIOSH.