CAOHC & NIOSH PFT Course Training Update Indianapolis, IN July 13th-July 17th

CAOHC & NIOSH PFT TRAINING COURSES UPDATE: INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 13TH THRU JULY 17TH, 2020. 

CAOHC:

 We have been working with CAOHC to develop a combination video conference/face to face course to minimize social interaction. The CAOHC Full Course will consist of a two-day video conference and a ½ day required face to face practicum and testing which would be held at a local hotel in each scheduled city. The CAOHC Refresher would only consist of a ½  day video conference and the ½ day face to face practicum and testing. These courses will be kept small to ensure safety and will require all participants to bring a mask. The courses can also be taught onsite should you have sufficient participants in a given area.

Because of the smaller course size, we recommend early registration. Participants who previously registered and had their courses postponed will be given priority considerations.

NIOSH:

 NIOSH has strongly recommended all NIOSH PFT testing and training be suspended at this time due to the pandemic. We are not sure when they will update this recommendation. I have provided the comments from NIOSH and OSHA regarding this recommendation below for your review.

 From NIOSH: Because performing forced vital capacity maneuvers have the potential to generate respiratory aerosols that could potentially transmit COVID-19, the NIOSH Spirometry Training Course Program strongly recommends that spirometry training courses remain closed until further notice.

From OSHA:  Because of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's recommendation, pulmonary function testing is suspended.  OSHA will not cite the employer for failing to conduct the periodic [medical] monitoring if the employer implemented interim alternative protective measures, where possible, and shows a good faith effort to reschedule the spirometry testing once the suspension is lifted.