What qualities and characteristics should purchasers look for in surgical masks and/or respirators?
Lack of proper respiratory protection can be life threatening. Purchasers of protection should not accept minimum protection. OSHA says, NIOSH-approved disposable particulate respirators (e.g., N95, N99, or N100) are the minimum level of respiratory protection that should be worn. NIOSH says Surgical masks are recommended only as a last resort for health care and medical transport workers exposed to SARS patients when no NIOSH-approved respirator equivalent to or greater than the N-95 is available. Key qualities for proper respiratory and contact protection, include: NIOSH approved ≥ 99.97% filtration efficiency (minimum HEPA level efficiency). Universal fit no fit testing for any employee, sharable with proper decontamination between uses. Reusable for long term cost effectiveness. Free of weighty or extending apparatus so not to impede maneuverability in the work area. Comfortable and convenient to facilitate use compliance. Rugged and reliable for routine, daily use and extended per
