Notice of Intent to Award Sole Source Head and Face Anthropometry Training

The purpose of this work is to provide key NIOSH personnel the critical anthropometry knowledge and training that can be applied to core human subject and respirator fit initiatives performed regularly within the program. NIOSH personnel would benefit from obtaining the proposed facial anthropometry training for several reasons related to human subject and respirator fit initiatives:

Understanding Facial Dimensions: Facial anthropometry involves measuring the dimensions and contours of the human face. This knowledge is crucial for NIOSH personnel to understand how varying designs of respirators would fit a diverse range of facial shapes and sizes.

Improving Respirator Fit: Proper fit is essential for respirators to function effectively. Training in facial anthropometry would help NIOSH personnel understand how different facial features affect the fit of respirators, allowing them to assess and improve fit testing methodologies.

Enhancing Safety and Compliance: By ensuring that respirators fit properly and understanding how respirator fit is correlated with a person’s facial dimensions based off of the foundations presented within this training, NIOSH personnel could better inform ways on how to reduce exposure risks to hazardous substances. This is particularly important in occupational settings where respiratory protection is required and critical for worker safety, such as in healthcare, mining, wildfire safety, and more.

Conducting Effective Fit Testing: Training in facial anthropometry would equip NIOSH personnel with the skills necessary to conduct fit tests accurately, ensuring that the respirators selected for use are appropriate for the individuals wearing them based on their unique facial dimensions.