In February 2020, amid growing concerns of the novel coronavirus, one forward-looking French fashion designer, Marine Serre, had her models wear facemasks that matched their trendy ensembles on the catwalk at Paris’ Fashion Week. Fast forward to today. So much has changed in the last year and a half. Facemasks have become the norm to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 while the world continues to try and rebound while also preparing for new variants of the deadly virus.
When it comes to preventative measures, there are many ways to combat respiratory hazards. One of the first ways to limit this exposure is with local exhaust ventilation.
The air filtration company's NF95 Respirator is a six-layer mask with nanofiber filtration that's certified 97% efficiency and an inexpensive, high-quality option.
N95 respirators and surgical masks delivered to healthcare systems as well as federal and state governments. The company significantly increased production capacity and expanded operations to help address increased demand for PPE.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued temporary guidance on enforcement of initial and annual fit-testing requirements in the Respiratory Protection standard for Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs).
OSHA requires that in any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, a written respiratory protection program must be established and implemented.
Beneficial uses of smoke tubes include respirator fit tests and air flow observations and measurements. Users of smoke tubes must be aware, however, of the significant risks if the tool is misused. Proper use of smoke tubes, therefore, is essential.