One of the occupational hazards in the healthcare setting is the airborne transmission of certain infectious diseases. The potential of exposure is not limited to physicians, nurses, and support personnel in direct patient care. It extends to those delivering food, cleaning patient rooms, and performing maintenance. Anyone working in areas with patients infected with airborne-transmissible diseases is potentially at risk.

Wearing appropriate respiratory protection when necessary is a vital line of defense. In healthcare, the N95 filtering facepiece respirator is the most commonly used.

Employers and employees need to follow safety and health standards established by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Joint Commission, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and other organizations.

Donning is properly putting the respirator on your face.  Doffing is properly taking the respirator off your face.