M.C. Townsend Associates, LLC

NIOSH-Approved Spirometry Training

NIOSH Spirometry Program Changes

Though completion of a NIOSH-approved spirometry course is not required by OSHA for technicians outside of the cotton industry, NIOSH-approved courses have become the benchmark and best practice for training health professionals to conduct screening spirometry in the occupational setting.

Certificates of completion of a NIOSH-approved spirometry course remain active for 5 years from the course date. Students who completed their initial NIOSH-approved course prior to 2000 must repeat the full course to maintain an active certificate of course completion. That new certificate will then be active for 5 years from the course date.

Students who completed their initial NIOSH-approved course in 2000 or later may take a NIOSH-approved Spirometry Refresher Course by 12/31/12 to extend their certificate of completion for 5 years from the Refresher Course date.

Course Description

This comprehensive NIOSH spirometry course is appropriate for those with no spirometry background as well as for experienced spirometry users. Though the course assumes no prior spirometry experience or knowledge of respiratory physiology, experienced spirometry users always increase their understanding of spirometry by participating in the course. The goal of this course is to teach not only what the recommendations and requirements are for conducting tests and interpreting results, but also why the recommendations and requirements were made.

Using lectures, discussion, and practice sessions, the course presents basic pulmonary pathophysiology, instrumentation requirements, performance of the spirometry test (stressing active coaching), recognition of testing errors and spirometer malfunctions, supervised use of the spirometer, measurement of the spirogram, and calculation of results.

OSHA standards, the AIHA/ANSI Z88.6-2006 Respirator Use Physical Qualifications for Personnel, the 2005 American Thoracic Society (ATS) spirometry guidelines, and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) Statement on Spirometry in the Occupational Health Setting - 2011 Update are reviewed.

In the classes, Dr. Townsend draws on her extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of various spirometers, acquired through on-going consulting with a variety of clients. As she helps clients solve their spirometry problems and identify optimal spirometer configurations, Dr. Townsend obtains new information to share with her students, enabling them to work more effectively with their own equipment and to optimize their spirometry testing skills.

Over half of the class time is devoted to supervised student practice of the techniques that are presented. Individual attention is ensured by maintaining the student/instructor ratio at 6:1 or better. All lectures are given by Dr. Mary Townsend; all practice session assistants are NIOSH-approved and have extensive spirometry experience. The course is co-provided by UPMC Work Partners.

Class size is restricted to 24 or fewer students, to maximize student-faculty interaction and to keep the atmosphere informal and conducive to learning.  Topics and presentation styles are varied to keep students interested and involved.  Breaks are frequent to help students concentrate and remain focussed.

Practical and written examinations are given on the last half-day of the course, and a certificate is awarded if performance is satisfactory. NIOSH-Approved Course certificates remain active for 5 years.

Course Topics

• Review of OSHA standards, AIHA/ANSI Z88.6-2006 Respirator Use Physical Qualifications for Personnel, the 2005 ATS Spirometry Guidelines, and the ACOEM Spirometry in the Occupational Health Setting - 2011 Update.
• Respiratory defense mechanisms; obstructive and restrictive impairment patterns.
• Spirometry technique and recognizing testing errors.
• Measuring the spirogram: FVC and FEV1, back-extrapolation, BTPS correction, reproducibility.
• Interpreting test results: Comparing observed with predicted values; race- adjusting predicted values; evaluating change over time.
• Types of spirometers: advantages, disadvantages, and potential problems.
• Spirometer calibration and calibration checks.

Continuing Education

This activity has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 19.50 American Board of Preventive Medicine Maintenance of Certification (ABPM-approved MOC) Credits.

Course Materials

• Please bring a calculator and your spirometer operating manual, if available. All other course materials will be provided.

• Please submit several test results, with tracings, from your spirometer prior to the class, if possible. The reports and tracings will be critiqued and feedback will be provided.

Dates & Course Locations

Pittsburgh Course Location

• On-line, more than 2 weeks before class, click the appropriate class date: March 26-28, June 4-6, September 17-19, or November 5-7.
• By phone, call (412) 788-8400 - ask for "spirometry/audiometry" room block.
• Less than 2 weeks before class or for any problems, contact Ralph Davis, Hotel Director of Sales, at (412) 788-8400.

Pittsburgh 2012 Dates

March 26 - 28, 2012 *
June 4 - 6, 2012 *

*Immediately followed by a CAOHC-Approved Hearing Conservation Workshop, taught by Dr. Roger Angelelli of Audiometric Baseline Consulting. Call (412) 831-0430 for complete workshop information and to register for the course.

Baltimore Course Location

• Directions: http://www.jhsph.edu/resources/directions.html

• Hotels convenient to the school are listed HERE. Some hotels offer a Johns Hopkins room rate and shuttle service to the hospital.

Baltimore 2012 Dates

February 22-24, 2012

October, 2012 - dates TBD

Registration Information

• all course materials, including comprehensive workbook and reference materials
• ANSI Z88.6-2006 Respirator Use Physical Qualifications for Personnel
• ACOEM Spirometry in the Occupational Health Setting - 2010 Update
• continuing education credit
• spirogram measuring tools and use of spirometers
• morning and afternoon refreshments

Customized on-site courses are also available, and a minimum number of participants is usually recommended. Please call for more information: (412) 343-9946.