Where does OSHA stand with cloth face masks/surgical masks?
Now I am by no means a mask expert, but based on this FAQ released by OSHA it looks like they are advising against the use of surgical/cloth masks to protect workers from COVID:
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/covid-19-faq.html
"Will not protect the wearer against airborne transmissible infectious agents due to loose fit and lack of seal or inadequate filtration."
Anyone have any input on this? Should we be pushing the N95 respirators over the paper/cloth masks? If we are expected to push the N95 masks, my only complaint would be that if a worker fails the fit test then they would be disqualified from any work within 6 feet of another employee. For large manufacturing plants where workers frequently come within 6 feet of each other, I imagine that would be very tough.
Comments (4)
Without digging back into the OSHA link, I know a lot of push on the mask is to minimize the droplet and aerosol transmission from a sneeze, cough or general conversation. This is protection aimed at not the wearer of the mask, but those around the person.
On our sites, we have a lot of welding partners. These employees are within touching distance of each other throughout the day. For these employees we require the use of a half face respirator, which really isn't much of a change because most of them voluntarily wear them during welding/cutting/grinding activities.
PER: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf
Guidance on Preparing work place
Note: A face mask (also called a surgical mask,
procedure mask, or other similar terms) on a patient or
other sick person should not be confused with PPE for
a worker; the mask acts to contain potentially infectious
respiratory secretions at the source (i.e., the person’s nose
and mouth).