RESPIRATOR AWARENESS

 

RESPIRATOR AWARENESS

RESPIRATOR AWARENESS

One of the occupational hazards in the workplace especially in healthcare setting is the airborne transmission of certain infectious diseases. The possible of exposure is not limited to physicians, nurses, and support personnel in direct patient care. It extends to those delivering food, cleaning patient rooms, and performing maintenance. Everyone working in areas with patients infected with airborne-transmissible diseases is potentially at risk.

Wearing suitable respiratory protection when necessary is a vital line of defense. In healthcare, the N95 filtering facepiece respirator is the most commonly used.

Employers and employees need to follow safety and health standards established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the local government guidelines, and other organizations.

Operation Safety for Lifting Appliances

It is important for you to be aware of the following deliberations with respiratory protection products:

ü Always follow the guidance of your company’s respiratory protection system, including medical clearance

ü Be sure you are using a NIOSH-approved respirator

ü Get fit-tested on an annual basis for the respirator

ü Know how to don and doff the specific brand and model of respirator you are using

ü Get trained & Know how to use the respirator safely and effectively

Definitions of Terms in Chemical Safety


Respiratory Protective Devices

N95 filtering facepiece respirators are an important part of infection control in a healthcare setting.

Unlike surgical masks, respirators are precisely designed to provide respiratory protection by forming a tight seal against the user’s skin and efficiently filtering out airborne particles including pathogens. The N95 description indicates that the respirator filters at least 95% of airborne particles.

Employees must use respirators in conjunction with the OSHA 1910.134 comprehensive respiratory protection program standards. Employers are required to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with measures specific to the workplace, and to provide qualified training in those procedures to all the employees.

FILTERING FACEPIECE RESPIRATORS

In most instances in healthcare settings, a NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator is used to protect employees from airborne particles, including pathogens. Please aware that the N95s do not provide protection against gases, vapors, or sprays, and may provide little protection against direct liquid splashes.

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SURGICAL MASKS ARE NOT RESPIRATORY PROTECTION

Be aware, a surgical mask can help block large particle droplets, splashes, sprays or splatter that may contain germs, viruses, and bacteria from reaching the nose and mouth. However, surgical masks are primarily intended to protect the user from the healthcare worker by reducing exposure of saliva and respiratory secretions to the patient. They do not form a tight seal against the skin or filter very small airborne pathogens, such as those involved in airborne disease transmission.

SURGICAL N95 RESPIRATORS

A surgical N95 respirator provides the respiratory protection of an N95 respirator and the splash and spray protection of a surgical mask.






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