Planning for Reopening? Masks Won’t Protect You (But Here’s What Will)

With the potential easing of restrictions, many organisations will be turning their attention to how they can reopen their businesses. One of the key issues will be – how can I protect my staff and customers from contracting COVID-19, while interacting with me:

• Do I need masks (bad idea, see below)?
• If not a mask, then what? A respirator?
• What will it cost?
• How do I get them?
• How do I know I’m getting the real thing?

Your Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) obligations will mean it’s incumbent on you to provide a safe environment for your staff (and you don’t want to be getting the customer sick either). One of the key pieces of equipment in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 is the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - particularly masks/respirators.

However, there seems to be a lot of confusion, and some charlatans selling substandard equipment. I will try to debunk the myths and provide some clarity.

What Not to Get

I went shopping early this week and noticed a stall table outside my supermarket selling masks – five for $10. Then yesterday at my local store they had packs of four masks for $10 ($2.50 each). 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that will protect you from the coronavirus is not that cheap - and really difficult to obtain and validate. (I happen to know that because I’ve been contacted by a supplier who has a stock and wants help to bring it to Australia). In fact, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Centre for Disease Control (CD) advise against relying on “masks” to protect you from contracting COVID-19. What you need to avoid contagion is a respirator, not a mask. 

Masks vs Respirators vs Ventilators – What’s the Difference?

Masks

These are what you usually see in the media and on TV hospital shows. They are designed to prevent large droplets going into open wounds during surgery. Their characteristics are:

• Loose-fitting, covering the nose and mouth
• Designed for one-way protection to capture fluids leaving the wearer
• Usually worn during surgery to prevent coughing, sneezing, etc. while in front of an open wound
• Do NOT protect the wearer – only the patient
• Help block large-particle droplets such as saliva, splashes, sprays, or splatter
• Also called surgical, isolation, dental, or medical procedure masks
• Come in a variety of thicknesses 
• Generally, do not have standard associated with them

The masks outside my local supermarket had a very dodgy looking certification from the FDA (US, Food and Drug Administration). It looked like it had been photoshopped onto the packet. Dodgy certification or not, masks will not protect you from COVID-19.

 Why won’t masks protect you from COVID-19?

1. The virus is quite small 0.06 – 0.14 microns – COVID-19 will get through the material (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2001017)
2. They do not seal well and the virus gets around the mask

Respirators

Respirators are moulded to the face and provides lightweight effective comfortable and hygienic respiratory protection against dust and mists. Their characteristics are:

• Tightfitting, creating a facial seal
• May come with or without valves:

o Non-valved respirators protect both the wearer and other people

o  Valved respirators filter the inhalation, but not the exhalation. Thus, the protect the wearer, but not others.

• Respirators do protect the wearer
• Available as:

o  disposable (with or without a valve)

o  half face 

o  or full face

Respirators protect the wearer, masks do not.

Ventilators

Are the machines that help you breathe, and you often see them used in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). For further explanation on the difference see Respirators vs Ventilators: https://www.dictionary.com/e/respirator-vs-ventilator/

Standards

For protection against catching or spreading COVID-19 - you need a respirator of an adequate standard - not a mask. The higher the standard of the mask, the more particles it filters out - but the harder it is to breathe.

The US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) cites a respirator of N95 or better as part of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that should be used to protect against COVID-19.

The WHO recommends FFP2/P2 for reducing the chances of catching COVID-19. FFP = Filtering Face Piece - this is an EU standard. The other EU standards that apply to respirators are P1/P2/P3 with P1 being the lowest standard and P3 filtering out the most.

Other jurisdictions have other standards - the table below highlights the different jurisdictions and standards. Standards with the same shading are roughly equivalent i.e. the green shading are all equivalent standards - and suitable for protection against COVID-19. The blue rows are an equivalent and higher standard - also suitable for protection against COVID-19.

Notes:

1. Filter capacity means it removes greater than x% of all particles ≥ 0.3 microns (this is what is recommended)
2. US Standards are set by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) which is part of the US CDC.
3. European standards are maintained by European Committee for Standardization (CEN). The EU has two standards FFP and P1/P2/P3

What Standard do you need to Buy?

What to make of all that? If you are buying respirators for protection against COVID-19, the following standards are equivalent, and suitable according to the CDC and WHO:

N95 (95%) = FFP2 / P2 (94%) = KN95 (95%)

N99 (99%) = FFP3 (99%)

Korea and Japan have their own standards. For the purposes of Australians and New Zealanders wanting protection, the advice from authorities is that: N95/KN92/FFP/P2 are adequate.

Respirators do not Replace Other Protective Action: How to Prevent Spread

Remember, using a respirator is only one way to prevent spreading the virus. The World Health Organisation provides the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak as well as tips on how to protect one’s health and others during the pandemic including:

• Wash your hands frequently
• Maintain social distancing
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
• Practice respiratory hygiene
• If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
• Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider

Further information can be found at coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public WHO: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public.

Hints on Obtaining Legitimate Equipment

You need to do your due diligence when you’re purchasing PPE. We are looking into this and our process is:

1. Obtain sample respirators - with certification documents.
2. Validate the documents.
3. Validate the respirators.
4. If, and only if, they meet the standard stated in the documentation, place an order.
5. Ensure all shipments are subject to random sampling and independent testing in Australian laboratories.

If you can’t do this yourself then find someone who can. 

Remember, just because a respirator has a standard attached to it, doesn’t mean it meets that standard.

If you would like to reserve an order of respirators please email us at [email protected]. Pre-ordering means that when we have completed our due diligence you get first choice on any orders.

In Summary:

• Surgical masks do not protect against coronavirus COVID-19.
• For adequate protection, you need to supply your staff with respirators of at least standard N95 or KN95 or FFP2/P2.
• Respirators with a valve will only protect your staff, not your customers. 
• Respirators without a valve will protect both your staff and your customers (but are harder to breathe through).
• Just because a mask comes with a certification – doesn’t mean it is genuine.

For more information about masks, pricing and ordering please email us at [email protected].

To help build the resilience of your teams download our Resilience Compass (c) now.

For the full article and similar articles visit: https://www.resilienceworks.com.au/blog.