To assist healthcare and non-healthcare facilities (e.g., correctional facilities) in planning and optimizing the use of PPE resources for the response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed the NIOSH Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Tracker. This tool can be used for planning PPE use outside the context of COVID-19, where PPE shortages may also occur due to supply chain issues related to the COVID-19 response (e.g., manufacturing facilities).


The NIOSH PPE Tracker app will calculate the average consumption rate, also referred to as a “burn rate.” Healthcare personnel or facilities can use this app to track the number of full boxes of each component of PPE that they have in stock, such as gowns or respirators. They can enter these numbers to estimate the remaining supply of PPE based on the average consumption rate. Users of this tool can also enter the number of patients at their facility. The app will calculate the PPE burn rate per patient to help healthcare personnel track changes in PPE usage as the number of patients being cared for fluctuates. Based on the PPE Burn Rate Calculator Excel spreadsheet, the app features several improvements, including an easy-to-use interface and the ability to add restock.

• This easy-to-use tool tracks different types of PPE, such as gowns, gloves, surgical masks, respirators, face shields, and more.

• Track inventory by number of boxes or number of individual units.

• Add restock when calculating inventory totals.

• Calculate burn rate by type of PPE (such as gloves) and for specific units (such as small gloves).

• Calculate PPE burn rate by the number of patients being treated and track changes in PPE usage as the number of patients fluctuates.

• Download inventory and burn rate data and share reports via email.