Apparatus that protects by filtering particles out of the air you breathe. Workers can wear any one of the particulate respirators for protection against diseases spread through the air- if they are NIOSH approved and if they have been properly fit-tested and maintained. NIOSH-approved disposable respirators are marked with the manufacturer’s name, the part number (P/N), the protection provided by the filter (e.g., N-95), and NIOSH. “95” refers to the percentage of particles filtered. (Centers for Disease Control, 2018)

Synonyms: air-purifying respirator