What organization approves the manufacture of respirators?

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

Answer: (D)

NIOSH is the organization that certifies and approves respirator models for workplace use. They conduct standardized testing on respirator designs—checking filtration efficiency, breathing resistance, and fit compatibility—and issue formal certification (the TC designation) once a model meets the criteria. This NIOSH approval is what qualifies a respirator for occupational use. Other agencies have different roles: FDA regulates respirators only when they're considered medical devices or consumer products; OSHA enforces safety standards in the workplace but does not approve specific respirator models; the CDC is the umbrella agency that includes NIOSH. So for industrial respirators, the approving body is NIOSH.