“Purchase survey” of respiratory protective equipment as a follow-up on the national certification system in Japan

Since respiratory protective equipment (RPE) are essential for the workers who are occupationally exposed to harmful airborne substances, it is necessary to complete a strict certification test on RPE. In Japan, Technology Institution of Industrial Safety (TIIS) is responsible for the RPE certification and examines the RPE submitted by the manufactures to make an admission decision with the national standards. However, the certification system cannot ensure the quality of the RPE after the shipping because some RPE may deteriorate during the distribution process or the storage period at retail stores. In this article, the author aimed to introduce the follow-up system on national RPE certification in Japan and the role of the follow-up survey committee established by TIIS.