First responders put their lives on the line to help others, and our team helps safeguard their protection. 

Our team on contract with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Respiratory Protection Program works with staff to test respirators and establish secure fits. Similarly, they provide these fit tests for fire department personnel on a regular basis to ensure optimum safety.

In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic, our team provided critical support to NIH healthcare personnel by performing fit tests of their N-95 masks. When fitted correctly, N-95 masks offer the highest level of protection because of their snug fit and ability to filter out large and small particles.

Person hands a face mask to another person. Mask is linked to a machine with a computer monitor.
Providing an N-95 mask fit test.
Providing a respirator fit test.

See More Success CSS Stories

Bare Earth with sparse grass

Remediating Soil Surrounding Abandoned Mines 

CSS employees have been providing field, lab, and horticultural support for the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to develop and test methods for the remediation and revegetation of contaminated soils around selected abandoned mines in the western United States. One of the promising approaches is to incorporate biochar into the soil. Using biochar helps effectively adsorb trace metals and reduce their…

Woman pours works with chemical with a test kit

Supporting Guam’s Chemical Round Up

Senior chemist working on the CSS contract with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) supported the Guam Lab Chemicals Round Up in March of 2024 and July of 2025. During both mobilizations, START supported EPA’s mission to collect chemical waste items from across the U.S. island territory of Guam for off-island transport and disposal. As a field chemist, CSS employee…

Aerial view of a burned facility surrounded by a woods

Responding to Tangipahoa River Contamination 

Following a fire at Smitty’s Supply facility in Louisiana’s Tangipahoa Parish on August 24, 2025, CSS employee owners supporting the Environmental Protection Agency’s Scientific Technical and Assessment for Consequence Management (STACM) contract deployed to the scene on August 31 to assist with response efforts. Initially staff worked on logistics at the staging warehouse. After a…