What is the sole respirator certification agency?

The correct choice is NIOSH, which stands for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH is the organization that is solely responsible for certifying respirators in the United States. This certification process ensures that respirators meet specific safety standards and are effective in protecting users from hazardous airborne contaminants. NIOSH conducts rigorous testing and evaluation of respirators to ensure their reliability and efficiency for various applications and environments.

While ANSI (American National Standards Institute) provides standards and guidelines related to various industries, and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) oversees workplace safety regulations, neither agency is responsible for the certification of respirators. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is more focused on environmental protection and does not have a role in respirator certification either. Thus, NIOSH stands out as the designated agency for respirator certification, ensuring that equipment is safe for user health and safety.