Respirators--who's standing guard?
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Certification↗
Biomedical subjects
L R Birkner
Publications and source records attributed to L R Birkner.
Assessing exposure control strategy cost-effectiveness.
The cost-effectiveness analysis method discussed compares the cost of various control strategies for achieving a desired level of exposure. Such analysis can provide management with additional data upon which to make decisions relative to exposure control programs. Cost-effectiveness analysis does not assess the benefit of the level to be achieved--such as an OSHA PEL or internal company standard--but the costs of achieving the level. The method utilizes discounted cash flow analysis on incremental control strategy investments and expenses to compare the costs associated with various achievable and effective exposure mitigation utilizing engineering, administrative, work practice, personal protection controls or a combination of such approaches for economic efficiency. To determine process-life costs of exposure control, the method evaluates capital investments, annual expenses, taxes, inflation, cost of money and revenues. An additional feature of the method is its ability to help fine tune investments for a given strategy maximizing the level of employee protection achieved while minimizing expenditures.
Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
An industry viewpoint on respirator research needs...
Neither the physics nor the politics of respirator research can take place in a vacuum. Industry must be a party to setting research priorities and to the peer review of research growing out of these priorities. After all, we know where the utilization of respiratory protection is a necessary part of our manufacturing processes. But more important, it is our employees who must wear the fruits of your research and development efforts, and it is essential to us as employers that, when respirators are required, they afford equal protection to that of the best engineering, work practices, and administrative controls.
Air Pollutants↗