Spirometry

SPIROMETRY

Background
The Occupational and Environmental Department sponsors a Spirometry Training Course that has been approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). There are only 33 NIOSH-approved Spirometry Training Courses across the United States and the NMCPHC sponsored course is tailored to meet the occupational health needs of the Department of Navy (DoN), to include providing the course to commands Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS).

Within the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) Cotton Dust Standard (29CFR1910.1043), NIOSH is tasked with the responsibility to approve spirometry courses for those individuals administering screening pulmonary function testing to employees who are exposed to cotton dust. These spirometry training and testing criteria have been widely accepted for testing workers in occupational settings beyond the cotton dust industry.

Occupational surveillance with spirometry is a mandatory OSHA requirement for those employees exposed to pulmonary hazards (e.g. asbestos, cadmium, and beryllium). The Navy Safety and Occupational Health Program Manual (OPNAVINST 5100.23G) states that spirometry must be performed in accordance with the NMCPHC Occupational and Environmental Medicine Field Operations Manual (NMCPHC TM-OEM 6260.96-2) which requires all personnel administering spirometry tests to have successfully completed a NIOSH-approved spirometry course. The Safety and Occupational Health Medical Evaluations (SOHMEs), conducted at the Navy Medicine Occupational Health Clinics (OHCs) every three years by the Regional Program Managers, include this requirement as an inspection item.
 
NMCFHPC Sponsored NIOSH-Approved Spirometry Course Schedule
2025 Schedule- FY2025 Spirometry Schedule
Occupational Health Clinics that are interested in hosting a spirometry may contact DCPH-Portsmouth to learn how to schedule a course. Check NIOSH Spirometry courses:  https://wwwn.cdc.gov/niosh-rhd/spirometry/TrainingSchedule.aspx
 
Student Registration Request
Click here for Student Registration Request
 
Instructor Checklist
Click here for Spirometry Instructor Checklist
 
Contact Information for Spirometry Course
E-mail: usn.hampton-roads.navmcpubhlthcenpors.list.nmcphc-spirometry@health.mil
Phone: 757-953-0728
 
Resources
NIOSH spirometry website: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/spirometry/default.html
OSHA Spirometry Testing in Occupational Health Programs: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3637.pdf
Standardization of Spirometry 2019 Update. An Official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Technical Statement:  https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.201908-1590ST
https://www.thoracic.org/statements/pulmonary-function.php
https://acoem.org/Guidance-and-Position-Statements/Guidance-and-Position-Statements/Occupational-Spirometry-and-Fit-Testing-in-the-COVID-19-Era-2021-Interim-Recommendations-from-the-A
ACOEM Guidance Statement: Spirometry in Occupational Health—2020