Which agencies are responsible for the approval of respirators used in the asbestos industry?

The correct answer points to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as the responsible agencies for the approval of respirators used in the asbestos industry.

NIOSH plays a pivotal role in ensuring that respiratory protection devices meet safety standards, as it conducts evaluations and certifications of respiratory equipment, labeling them for specific uses, which include protection against airborne asbestos fibers. Meanwhile, OSHA establishes regulations that require the use of such respirators in workplaces where asbestos exposure is a risk. These regulations help enforce safe work practices and standards to minimize hazards associated with asbestos.

Other organizations mentioned, while they have significant roles in public health and safety, do not specialize in respiratory protective equipment approvals. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) focus more on environmental safety and health guidelines rather than equipment certifications. ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization) set voluntary standards but do not directly approve respirators; they provide a framework within which organizations like NIOSH can work. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) deal more with emergency management and housing policies, respectively, and are not involved