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NIH Respiratory Protection Program
Division of Safety (DS)

Welcome to the Respiratory Protection Program

​​​​​​​​​​​The NIH has established a comprehensive Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) in accordance with OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.134. This program provides NIH-wide procedures for the proper selection, use, and care of respiratory protective equipment.

Program Oversight: Office of Research Services (ORS), Division of Safety (DS)

Important: All NIH employees who require respiratory protection must be enrolled in the NIH Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) before using any respirator, including a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR). Approved personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided at no cost to employees. Contract employees must be enrolled in their employer’s Respiratory Protection Program and receive fit testing through their employer, except those officially enrolled in the NIH Biosurety Program.​
Select Your Employee Group
⚕️

Medical Personnel

Required Respiratory PPE:
  • N95 Respirators
  • OR MAXAIR PAPR (for facial hair, medical or RPP team assignment)

Your Requirements:​

  1. Complete Medical Clearance Questionnaire in MyCority
  2. Complete N95 Training Course & Quiz or MAXAIR PAPR Training & Quiz (based on your assignment)
  3. Complete N95 Fit Test (only for N95 respirator users)
  4. Review your records in the MyCority database
🚒

Fire & Police Department

​Required Respiratory PPE:
  • N95 Respirators
  • OR MAXAIR PAPR (for facial hair, medical or RPP team assignment)
  • Specialized Emergency Response Equipment

Your Requirements:

  1. Complete Medical Clearance Questionnaire in MyCority
  2. Complete N95 Training Course & Quiz or MAXAIR PAPR Training & Quiz (based on your assignment)
  3. Complete N95 Fit Test (only for N95 respirator users)
  4. Review your records in the MyCority database
  5. Specialized emergency response training directly with your department
🔬

Research Lab Employees

Required Respiratory PPE:
  • N95 Respirators
  • or 3M Versaflo PAPR
  • or MAXAIR PAPR

Your Requirements:

  1. Complete Medical Clearance Questionnaire in MyCority
  2. Complete N95 Training Course & Quiz or PAPR Training & Quiz (based on your assignment)
  3. Complete N95 Fit Test (only for N95 respirator users)
  4. Review your records in the MyCority database

Note: All three PPE types may be present in research labs and training courses must be completed based on your specific lab hazards and assigned equipment.

🔧

Maintenance & Facilities

Required Respiratory PPE:
  • N95 Respirators (dust, particles)
  • or 3M Versaflo PAPR (chemical hazards) or MAXAIR PAPR (biological hazards)
  • Specialized cartridge respirators (based on your assignment)

Your Requirements:

  1. Complete Medical Clearance Questionnaire in MyCority
  2. Complete training based on your specific work hazards (consult supervisor)
  3. Complete Fit Test if using tight-fitting respirators
  4. Review your records in the MyCority database
👥

Other Personnel

Common Scenarios:
  • Voluntary respirator use
  • Administrative support in protected areas
  • Occasional exposure situations

Your Requirements:

  1. Discuss respirator needs with your supervisor
  2. Determine if voluntary or required use
  3. If voluntary: Review Appendix D information
  4. If required: Follow standard enrollment process

📋 4 Steps to Complete Your RPP Enrollment

1​

Complete Medical Clearance Questionnaire

This step must be completed annually according to your health and work period:​

What happens next: OMS will review and update your records in the Cority database. You will receive an official email from Cority and OMS about your enrollment status.​

2

Complete Online Training

After receiving the official OMS/Cority email, complete the appropriate training:

What happens next: The RPP Team will review your training records and update Cority with your PAPR training information. You will receive an email with your quiz score.​​

3

Complete Fit Test (N95 Users Only)

After completing the N95 quiz:

  • You will receive an email with your quiz score and a booking link for the N95 respirator fit test
  • Fit testing is required annually for all N95 users
  • PAPR users do NOT need fit testing (loose-fitting facepiece)

What happens next: RPP TEAM will update the Cority system with your fit test results and assigned N95 model. Your records will be available in MyCority within one week.​​

4

Review Your Records in MyCority

Access and verify your completed enrollment:

  • Log in to the MyCority Portal
  • Review your medical clearance status
  • Verify your completed PAPR training courses and quiz scores
  • Check your fit test results and assigned N95 respirator model (if applicable). If you don’t see any records here, you can view the date of your last fit test(s) by on the Respiratory Protection Program Compliance Dashboard​ in myCority 
  • Confirm your annual renewal dates

Important: All your medical clearance and RPP records are updated annually and can be reviewed by you and your supervisor at any time. Keep track of your renewal dates to maintain compliance.​​

📚 Additional Resources

📄 Full RPP Policy

Complete Respiratory Protection Program documentation

💻 MyCority Portal

Access your questionnaires and training records

⚖️ OSHA Standard

29 CFR 1910.134 Respiratory Protection

🤝 Voluntary Use Info

Information about voluntary respirator use (NIH credentials required)​

📞 Need Help?

Email: nihrespirator@mail.nih.gov

Phone: (301) 496-2960 - Ask for the RPP Manager

For medical clearance questions, contact the OMS Of​fice​



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