A planning committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will organize a public workshop to examine standards gaps related to personal protective equipment (PPE) and personal protective technology (PPT) and explore innovative approaches and technologies to update and streamline the U.S. standardization system for PPE and PPT in support of supply chain resiliency. In this context, PPT includes PPE worn by individuals (e.g., gowns, gloves, goggles, face shields, head covers, respirators, shoe covers, and surgical masks) and the technical methods (e.g., fit testing methods), processes, techniques, tools, and materials that support the development and use of PPE.
This workshop will provide the opportunity to engage and exchange knowledge and ideas among key stakeholders—including policy makers, manufacturers, users, and relevant technical contributors—and to facilitate discussion on opportunities to improve the effectiveness, safety, supply stability, and accessibility of PPE/PPT designed for use in U.S. health care settings, by critical infrastructure workers, and by the general public.
The workshop will feature invited presentations and discussions to:

• Examine issues that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with current product standards for PPT and PPE, with a focus on PPE sizing standards;
• Explore potential supply chain impacts associated with current product and technology standards, including those related to stockpiling of PPE and PPE sizing standards ;
• Discuss standards needs for healthcare and critical infrastructure workers and the public (e.g., sizing, fit testing), as well as opportunities, barriers, and potential solutions to addressing current PPE limitations;
• Highlight relevant intellectual property issues related to PPE standardization;
• Consider how standards can improve the effectiveness of PPE without impeding innovation;
• Consider how input received in response to past National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Federal Register Notices (FRNs) can inform standards for PPE and PPT.
  

The planning committee will organize the workshop, develop the agenda, select and invite workshop speakers and discussants, and moderate or identify moderators for the discussions. A proceedings of a workshop will be published to capture the presentations and discussions at the workshop. This summary will be prepared by designated rapporteurs in accordance with National Academies institutional guidelines and will be released to the public.