Masks & Respirators-General Information

From the Department of Labor (So I can Cut/Paste it all):

RESPIRATOR TYPES
https://www.osha.gov/video/respiratory-protection/resp-types/transcript

There are two main types of respirators:

air-purifying respirators, which use filters, cartridges, or canisters to remove contaminants from the air you breathe,

and

atmosphere-supplying respirators, which provide you with clean air from an uncontaminated source.

Respirators can also be classified as tight-fitting or loose-fitting.

Tight-fitting respirators need a tight seal between the respirator and the face and/or neck of the respirator user in order to work properly. If the respirator's seal leaks, contaminated air will be pulled into the facepiece and can be breathed in. Therefore, anything that interferes with the respirator seal is not permitted when using this type of respirator. This could include facial hair, earrings, head scarves, wigs, and facial piercings.

If you are required to use a tight-fitting respirator at work, you must be fit tested with the respirator selected for your use. Fit testing is done to be sure that the respirator's facepiece fits your face. You must be fit tested before you use your respirator for the first time. You must also be re-tested at least every 12 months to be sure that your respirator continues to fit your face.

A fit test should not be confused with a user seal check. A user seal check is a quick check performed by the wearer each time the respirator is put on. It determines if the respirator is properly seated to the face or needs to be readjusted.

Loose-fitting respirators do not depend on a tight seal with the face to provide protection. Therefore, they do not need to be fit tested.

Your employer is responsible for selecting appropriate respirators to protect you from airborne hazards. To ensure that the correct respirator is selected, your employer must consider a number of factors.

First, your employer must identify and evaluate the hazard.

Your respirator will need different types of filters, cartridges, or canisters depending on the type and amount of airborne contaminant in your workplace. It is your employer's responsibility to determine which filter, cartridge, or canister is necessary and how often it needs to be changed. For example, respirators that have particulate filters will not protect you against gases, vapors and the non-particulate components of fumes, mists, fogs, smoke and sprays.

Your employer must also determine if the work atmosphere lacks sufficient oxygen, that is, if it is oxygen-deficient, or is contaminated to the point of being immediately dangerous to life or health. This is also referred to as "IDLH." Only atmosphere-supplying respirators, such as an airline respirator or a self-contained breathing apparatus - also known as an SCBA - can be used in IDLH atmospheres.

Once your employer has identified the type and amount of airborne contaminant present in your workplace, your employer will use this information to see how much protection you need the respirator to provide to you.

Different types of respirators offer different levels of protection. The measure of a respirator's protection capability is called the Assigned Protection Factor or APF. This is a number that OSHA has assigned to each class of respirators. It represents the level of protection from airborne exposure each class of respirators is expected to provide. The larger the number, the greater the level of protection. For example, when used properly, a respirator with an APF of 10 will reduce your exposure to 1/10th the concentration of the contaminant in the air. Similarly, a respirator with an APF of 50 will reduce your exposure to 1/50th the concentration of the contaminant in the air. OSHA's APFs can be found in Table 1 of its Respiratory Protection Standard.

When selecting an appropriate respirator, your employer must also consider whether the hazard has any additional characteristics that may affect the type of respirator selected. For example, does the hazard irritate the eyes? Do you need splash and spray protection as well as eye protection? If so, you will need a full facepiece respirator or some type of eye protection.

Let's take a closer look at the different types of respirators that are available to protect you.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of respirator, so it’s important that your employer select the type that’s best suited for your work setting and the hazards you face.

These are filtering facepiece half-mask respirators, sometimes referred to as N95s. A filtering facepiece respirator covers the nose and mouth, and is a tight-fitting, air-purifying respirator in which the whole facepiece functions as the filter. Filtering facepieces may or may not have an exhalation valve to help exhaled breath exit the facepiece. They need to be fit tested, unless you are wearing them under voluntary use conditions. Filtering facepiece respirators filter out particles and do not protect against non-particulate hazards such as gases or vapors.

This is a half-facepiece elastomeric respirator. It is a tight-fitting, air-purifying respirator with replaceable filters (for particulates) or cartridges or canisters (for gases and vapors). In either case, these are attached to a rubber or silicone facepiece that covers the nose and mouth. This type of respirator needs to be fit tested and can be used instead of a filtering facepiece respirator.

An elastomeric half-facepiece respirator can be cleaned, decontaminated, and reused. This is not the case for a filtering facepiece respirator, which is normally discarded after use.

Like filtering facepieces, half-facepiece elastomeric respirators can be used for particulates, but they can also be used for many gases and vapors if equipped with the proper cartridges.

This is a full facepiece elastomeric respirator. This type of respirator provides a higher level of protection than a half-facepiece respirator because it has better sealing characteristics. Since it covers the user's eyes and face, it can also be used to protect against liquid splashes and irritating vapors.

Like the half-mask elastomeric respirator, this respirator is a tight-fitting, air-purifying respirator with replaceable filters or cartridges attached to a rubber or silicone facepiece. It needs to be fit tested.

This is a loose-fitting facepiece powered air-purifying respirator, or PAPR. A PAPR has a blower that pulls air through attached filters. The blower then pushes the filtered air into the facepiece, which covers all of the user's face. Since it is loose-fitting, it does not need to be fit tested and can be used by workers with facial hair.

Another type of PAPR is the tight-fitting full facepiece PAPR. This PAPR has an elastomeric facepiece made of rubber or silicone. It has filters and a blower that operate as they do on a loose-fitting facepiece PAPR. Because this PAPR has a tight-fitting facepiece, it must be fit tested.

There are also half-mask PAPRs as well as PAPRs that have a helmet or hood.

This is an airline respirator. It supplies clean breathing air to either a hood or a facepiece through a long hose, from a source of clean air such as a cylinder or compressor. If the facepiece is tight-fitting, it must be fit tested.

This is a self-contained breathing apparatus, or SCBA. It is a type of atmosphere-supplying respirator. SCBAs have a tight-fitting, elastomeric facepiece that covers the user's face. The air is supplied from a cylinder of compressed breathing air that is designed to be carried by the respirator user. The facepiece is tight-fitting and must be fit tested. As its name implies, this respirator is truly self-contained. These respirators provide the highest level of respiratory protection.

You may hear someone refer to a respirator as an "N95" or a "P100." While most people use the term "N95" to refer to filtering facepiece respirators, "N95" actually describes the type of filter material and its protective properties. The filter material can be used in either a filtering facepiece respirator or in a filter cartridge that's attached to an elastomeric respirator.

The first part of the filter's classification uses the letters N, R, or P to indicate the filter's ability to function when exposed to oils.
"N" means Not resistant to oil;
"R" means somewhat Resistant to oil; and
"P" means strongly resistant to oil, or oil-Proof.

This rating is only important in work settings where oils may be present, because some oils can reduce the effectiveness of the filter.

The second part of the classification -- the number-- refers to the filter's ability to remove the most-penetrating particle size during "worst case" testing.

Filters that remove at least 95 percent of these particles are given a 95 rating. Those that filter out at least 99 percent receive a 99 rating, and those that filter out at least 99.97 percent - essentially 100 percent - receive a 100 rating.

Using this classification method, an N95 filter is not resistant to oil and removes at least 95 percent of the most-penetrating particles.

If you use a PAPR, the high efficiency particulate air filter, or HEPA filter that is attached to your unit, is similar to a P100 filter.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, or NIOSH, tests different respirator models in its laboratory to make sure they meet certain minimum performance standards. To become "NIOSH-certified," respirators must pass the performance tests listed in NIOSH's regulations. For example, NIOSH tests the filter efficiency of the filter materials used in a respirator.

When respiratory protection is required, employers must provide NIOSH-certified respirators to their workers. To see if your respirator is NIOSH-certified, look for the NIOSH logo as well as the test and certification approval number, or TC number. The logo and TC number can be found on the respirator's package or the user instruction insert, and sometimes they appear directly on respirator components, such as the respirator filter or cartridge. If your respirator is not NIOSH-certified, do not use it in a hazardous area.

You must never alter your respirator. Doing so can reduce its protective quality and expose you to the airborne hazard.

Never glue or staple things to your respirator; do not write on your respirator's filter material; and never put holes in your respirator.

However, it is OK to write your name on your respirator's straps.

You must never use unapproved parts on your respirator.

This video has provided you with a brief overview of the types of respirators available and how they are selected to protect you against airborne workplace hazards. There are many other things that you must know and do before you can safely use a respirator in a hazardous work environment. While this video may be part of your respiratory protection training, your employer must also provide you with additional training on respirators, including worksite-specific training.

Remember, if you don't know if a respirator is needed for the task you will be doing, or if you are unsure about how to properly use a respirator or which filter or cartridge to use, talk to your supervisor before entering the hazardous area.

For more information about respirator use in your workplace, refer to these OSHA and NIOSH websites. You will find OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard, additional respirator training videos, and other guidance material to help you work safely.

N95 vs P95 vs R95 Masks – What’s the difference between these respirators?
https://ebolapreparedness.org/n95-vs-p95-vs-r95-respirator-masks/

  There are a lot of different facepiece respirators available. If you’re like most people, you’ll be confused if you find these other masks and won’t be sure which to buy. Respirators are designated by a letter and number. NIOSH standards define these categories of filters: N95, N99, N100, R95, R99, R100, P95, P99, and P100.

It may be premature to stock up on surgical masks,
but there is a possibility that they would provide
some protection in the next pandemic.

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2019/09/jama-n95-respirators-vs-medical-masks_4.html

A decade ago, during the opening weeks of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic - many hospitals had an inadequate supply of PPEs on hand - and that led to a number of protests (see Nurses Protest Lack Of PPE’s , Report: Nurses File Complaint Over Lack Of PPE).
. In some cases nurses reported they were issued only one N95 mask to be used for an entire 8 hour shift, and told to don it only when in direct contact with a potentially infected patient.
. In other venues, HCWs were issued surgical masks in lieu of N95s, despite the recommendation at the time from the CDC that N95 masks were the preferred level of protection.
Our Strategic National Stockpile contains more than 100 million N95 and surgical masks (see Caught With Our Masks Down), but more than 10 years ago the HHS estimated the nation would need 30 billion masks (27 billion surgical, 5 Billion N95) to deal with a major pandemic (see Time Magazine A New Pandemic Fear: A Shortage of Surgical Masks).

Augmenting existing supplies, during a time when every country in the world will be scrambling for their share, won't be easy. Particularly since nearly all of these items are produced outside of the United States.

This is an old link that I found. It's no longer working, but the info is good, so I'm sharing:

Different Types of N95 Masks

MasksNMore
http://www.masksnmore.com

3M N95 Masks
filter out at least 95% of the particles you breathe.

3M 8000 Particulate Respirator N95 (Box/30)
3M 8000 N95 particulate respirator
for light duty applications. May be used for particles associated with sweeping, sanding, dusting and certain other substances. Box/30

3M 8210 N95 Particulate Respirator
Box/20 The 3M 8210 features a padded noseguard for long lasting comfort. Its lightweight and double strap design will give protection against most dusts, pollens, and grasses. 20 masks per box.

3M 8214 N95 Particulate Respirator w/Exhalation Valve and Face Seal 3M
recommended for welding stainless steel, aluminum, galvanized steel, and other applications where low level ozone and nuisance organic vapors may be present. Available Individually

3M 8511 N95 Particulate Respirator w/Exhalation Valve
The 3M 8511 Particulate Respirator is uniquely designed to help provide comfortable, reliable worker protection. It is ideally suited for work settings that involve heat, humidity or long periods of wear." Box of 10 masks.

3M 9211 N95 Disposable Particulate Respirator
The 3M 9211 disposable particulate respirator is a breakthrough in comfort and convenience. The three-panel low profile design conforms to a wide variety of face sizes allowing the adjustable noseclip to provide a custom fit and secure seal. The Cool Flow Exhalation Valve allows efficient operation in both hot and humid locations for all day comfort. Box of 10 masks

3M 1860 Health Care Particulate Respirator Type N95
3M is a NIOSH-approved N95 Health Care Particulate Respirator and Surgical Mask is NIOSH approved respirator to meet OSHA and CDC guidelines for TB exposure control. This mask has a 99% BFE rating, hypo-allergenic, fluid-resistant to reduce wearers exposure from spray, spatter, or aerosol of blood and body fluids. As a respirator it is intended to reduce wearers exposure to certain airborne particles in a size range of 0.1 to 10.0 microns, including those generated by electrocautery, laser surgery and other powered medical instruments. Also available in size small as 3M 1860S. (20 masks per box)

3M 8271 Disposable Particulate Respirator P95
The 3M 8271 Disposable Particulate Respirator may be used in oily or non-oily environments and has at least a 95% filtration efficiency certification against solid or liquid particulates.

3M 8247 Mask R95 with Nuisance Level Organic Relief
The 3M 8247 Particulate Respirator, NIOSH R95 with nuisance level organic vapor relief is designed to help provide reliable worker protection against nuisance levels of organic vapors. Available individually

A Prepper’s Guide to Respirator Masks
https://www.theorganicprepper.com/preppers-guide-respirator-masks/

  A respirator mask is a prep that is potentially lifesaving, doesn’t cost a lot of money, and is oft-overlooked in the prepper world. Some folks like to invest in gas masks (which, of course, are irreplaceable during certain types of disasters) or they forget about respiration altogether.

The importance of something that can help you breathe without sucking harmful particles or vapors into your lungs cannot be overstated. After all, in the prepper’s adage of 3, air comes first:

---CONTINUED---

Video: Face Masks, Part 1
https://www.doomandbloom.net/video-face-masks-part-1/?fbclid=IwAR0yBpqxaWl-6YHTlxYU98bajbGkeE803UqTJht4dsHXrbcGukmRapM4wEU

(SNIP) ...
In this video, Joe Alton MD discusses the history of infectious disease (did you know a founding father was the discoverer of one?) and the evolution of the practice of wearing masks. He’ll talk about the basics of different kinds of masks commonly used for disaster medical preparedness. Part one of a series.   ---CONTINUED---

Good info here:

What Survivalists Need to Know about N95 Face Masks
https://www.primalsurvivor.net/n95-masks/?fbclid=IwAR3NclesChR8C9j6kzhevfKJ93QkUQ7A9sRZioeppb8uaq0NLWSJV9jLNpA

One of the most important yet most overlooked emergency preparedness items is an N95 face mask. There is a lot of confusion about whether N95 masks work for emergencies and how to use them properly, so I thought I’d address the issue here. ---CONTINUED---

VERY GOOD info here. Long read ... but worth it!!

The Man In The Ironed Mask (Revisited)
https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-man-in-ironed-mask-revisited.html


Cloth Masks used during
the 1918 Pandemic

Earlier today, in  WHO Interim Advice On The Community, Home, Healthcare Use of Masks For nCoV2019s, we looked at the inevitable shortage of face masks and N95 respirators during any severe or prolonged epidemic, and the WHO's reluctance to recommend their general use by the public in a community setting.

This, understandably, isn't what most people want to hear, regardless of the limited benefits that wearing masks in public are likely to provide. But even without a negative recommendation, the scarcity of disposable masks during a major outbreak would make it difficult - perhaps even impossible - for much of the public to acquire them.

    That said, necessity is the mother of invention.  And if nCoV2019 - or some other respiratory virus - sparks a global epidemic, people are going to try to cobble together some kind of protective gear.

While their effectiveness is far from assured, over the years we have looked at a few homebrew mask options, which may provide some psychological comfort (and possibly some protection) to those inclined to make them.

   These are offered without recommendation (by me, or the WHO), and should be viewed as a `last ditch' line of defense.  Nevertheless, these options have appeared in the CDC's EID Journal, and PloS One, making them at least worthy of some consideration.    ---CONTINUED---