Counterfeit Respirators or Misrepresentation of NIOSH Approval

May 2, 2017

Corrected approval number

NIOSH has become aware of N95 respirators being improperly sold by Toolway Industries in Canada with NIOSH Approval Numbers 84A-3323, 84A-5530, and 84A-6766.

While these are valid NIOSH Approval Numbers, they were not issued to Toolway Industries. In all three cases, the company holding the approval does not have a relationship with Toolway, nor are they being manufactured under a private label agreement.

If you have purchased any products from Toolway Industries bearing the NIOSH Approval Numbers 84A-3323, 84A-5530, or 84A-6766, please be advised that the product has not been tested or approved by NIOSH.

Should you ever have a question or concern about the authenticity of a respirator marked with a NIOSH Approval Number, please consult the agency’s Certified Equipment List at https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/cel/default.html or by checking the status at https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/default.html.

Always verify that the brand of respirator is listed either in NIOSH’s list of manufacturers or as a private label company.

The NIOSH publication 2013-138 “Respirator Awareness: Your Health May Depend on It” provides additional information to look for when verifying your respirator is truly NIOSH-approved.

Sincerely,

David Chirdon
Chief, Conformity Verification and Standards Development Branch
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory

Counterfeit Respirators or Misrepresentation of NIOSH Approval [PDF – 123 KB]