Study Examines N95 Protection for Concrete Workers -- Occupational Health & Safety

Worker wearing a hard hat, N95 respirator, reflective jacket and safety harness handles an orange bag in a confined industrial space.

Study Examines N95 Protection for Concrete Workers

A federally funded project will assess dust exposure, respirator performance and comfort at Georgia concrete plants.

By Chelsey Arries
Nov 09, 2026

Georgia Southern University researchers have secured a $142,000 federal grant to study how effectively N95 respirators protect workers at ready-mix concrete plants.

NIOSH will fund the two-year project, which will examine dust exposure and respiratory protection under workplace conditions.

The team has partnered with three Georgia plants, which mix concrete before delivery to construction sites. Researchers plan to measure airborne particles and evaluate respirators, with hopes of adding facilities near Savannah.

Lead researcher Atin Adhikari, a public health professor, said researchers lack sufficient information about exposure levels and N95 performance against ultrafine particles in these plants.

The team will also assess comfort, examining how hot working conditions may discourage consistent respirator use. Researchers hope the work will inform respirator recommendations and support larger studies.

About the Author

Chelsey Arries is assistant editor for Security Today, Campus Security Today, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Protection Online.

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