In early April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended “wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas with a high risk of significant community-based transmission.”1 Now that states are in the process of transitioning to reopening and the drafting of return-to-work plans are underway, face coverings will continue to be recommended (or required) in an effort to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via inhalation in public and at work.
N95 respirators, a form of respiratory personal protective equipment (PPE) workplace controls, prevents inhalation exposure to SARS-CoV-2, when used correctly. However, a global supply shortage has resulted in the use of surgical masks and also recommendations for the use of home-made face coverings. Surgical masks and home-made face coverings do not create a protective seal around the nose and mouth of the wearer, as a result the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not consider these as PPE, but they may still have some protective properties.2
As health & safety professionals, which face covering should we recommend?
PPE is “personal” protective equipment first, meaning that it protects the wearer. An additional and invaluable benefit in the case of COVID-19 is that proper and consistent use can reduce the rate of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to others if the wearer happens to an asymptomatic carrier.
In the absence of true respiratory PPE, such as the N95, each time a wearer dons their face protection, it displays an effort to reduce the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As health & safety professionals, our role is to provide the best recommendations based upon the scientific information available given the current circumstances.
BSI has developed a brief informational video entitled, COVID-19: Determining the Right Mask for the Task , to help guide health and safety professionals and clients on the differences between the most prevalent face covering types and some considerations to keep in mind to ensure appropriate fit and usage, and possible re-use.
These guidelines, which are based on currently available scientific information from leading agencies involved in the pandemic such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are subject to change and should be referred to for the latest updates.
