Initial Postal Letter

OMB No. 1220-0171

First Mail Invitation

U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics

2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20212

Dear Employer:

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are working together to survey employers about the use of protective respirators and other respiratory devices by employees. Your establishment has been selected to participate in the 2022 Survey of Respirator Use and Practices (SRUP). Because your participation is important, you may have also received an email about this.

Complete your survey by {DATE} following the instructions enclosed with this letter.

What is the purpose of this survey? The information from this survey will be used by NIOSH to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the use of respirators and other devices, determine how employees are using respirators in the workplace, identify effective use of respirators, and develop effective educational materials.

Who should complete this survey? Someone knowledgeable about the use of respirators and other respiratory devices in your establishment should complete the survey. If you think someone else in your organization knows more about respirator usage, please deliver the survey instructions to them. Complete this survey even if no workers at your establishment use respirators or other devices.

Is this part of an enforcement effort? This survey is conducted for informational purposes only. Participation by your establishment is voluntary and results will not be used in any type of enforcement activity. All responses will remain confidential and used only for statistical purposes.

Thank you for helping us collect accurate information and for helping in the effort to make America’s workplaces safer and healthier.

Sincerely,

Marika Litras

Assistant Commissioner
Office of Safety, Health, and Working Conditions
Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, its employees, agents, and partner statistical agencies, will use the information you provide for statistical purposes only and will hold the information in confidence to the full extent permitted by law. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (44 U.S.C. 3572) and other applicable Federal laws, your responses will not be disclosed in identifiable form without your informed consent. Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, Federal information systems are protected from malicious activities through cybersecurity screening of transmitted data.