Respirator Selection Logic (RSL) Copilot

Overview

Development stage

In development or acquisitionSource: a) Pre-deployment – The use case is in a development or acquisition status.

High-impact designation

Not high-impactSource: c) Not high-impact

Impact justification

Not reported

Start date

Not reported

Withheld from public reporting

NoSource: a) No

Mission

Topic area

Service Delivery

Operational functions

Software development assistance Derived by keyword rules; see methodology

Problem the AI is intended to solve

Workers rely on NIOSH Approved respirators to protect them from inhaling high-consequence particulate, gas, and vapor hazards. Some examples of these respiratory hazards include: • Wildfire, structural, or surgical smoke • Mold during post-flood remediation efforts • Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis • Chemicals used to clean or disinfect • Particles liberated when cutting rock in industries such as construction and mining Selecting the correct respirator to protect workers requires knowledge of the hazard or hazards present, the job task, and the environment. NIOSH’s Respirator Selection Logic (RSL) is a state-of-the-art tool designed to guide the selection of appropriate respiratory protection devices based on specific workplace hazards and conditions. The RSL requires users to enter detailed, task- and environment-specific information at multiple decision points to execute its logic correctly.

Expected benefits

No current AI tool operationalizes the RSL while addressing the challenge of gathering and validating highly specific input information required at each decision point. The absence of such assistance leads to errors in respirator selection that can cause hazardous exposures, regulatory violations, and adverse health outcomes. Developing Ally to close this gap will improve the effectiveness of respiratory protection programs by ensuring that users supply accurate, relevant data to the RSL, thereby enhancing the quality and traceability of respiratory protection decisions aligned with established federal guidance.

System outputs

Upon completion of this project, users of the RSL will be able to: • Receive real-time guidance on what information is required for respirator selection and why it matters. • Provide input in natural language rather than navigating technical documents or forms manually. • Understand and apply the RSL more effectively, leading to fewer errors in respirator selection, improved compliance, and stronger respiratory protection outcomes. • Use Ally as a decision support tool—not a decision maker—to identify and clarify required inputs, understand the rationale behind each RSL step, and access authoritative guidance. The Copilot will always keep the user in the loop, helping them apply judgment while ensuring traceability to official sources like NIOSH and OSHA. This project will demonstrate how AI can support complex public health decision tools like the RSL while maintaining user accountability, transparency, and regulatory defensibility.

Technology

AI classification

Natural language processingSource: Natural Language Processing: AI that processes, interprets, and shares information in human language.

System name(s)

Not reported

Custom-developed code

Not reported

Public source code

Not reported

Sourcing

How it was built

Not reported

Vendor (as reported)

Not reported

Vendors (standardized)

None on the standard list

A vendor is the supplier named by the agency. It does not identify the underlying model or AI technology.

Data and privacy

Involves PII

Not reported

Privacy Impact Assessment

Not reported

Authorization to Operate

Not reported

Demographic features

Not reported

Training and evaluation data

Not reported

Federal Data Catalog

Not reported

Governance

0 of 8 minimum-practice questions answered. A blank answer means the agency reported nothing; it does not mean the practice is absent.

Potential impacts and how they were identified

Not reported