Page 5 - August 2020 Track N Times

SAFETY FOCUS

Respiratory Protection Frequently Asked Questions

By: Mitchell Kruse, Safety Specialist
In the months following the COVID-19 pandemic, many states and private businesses adopted mandatory require-
ments for face coverings to slow down and minimize the spread of the virus. To best protect our employees and the
customers we service, Loram has mandated face mask usage for all facilities and Field Operations. While we are all
doing our best to adapt and overcome the obstacles presented by this virus, we understand there may still be ques-
tions about the new requirements. This article is intended to answer the most commonly submitted questions from
our Field Operations teams, as well as provide you with the information to continue to take the safest approach.

D: 3M FF-400 E: 3M 6000 Se-
A:3M 8210 B: Moldex 2700 C: 3M 8511
Series ries Half Face

Figure 1: Approved tight-fitting face respirators for Loram’s Respiratory Protection Program.

Q1: What is the difference between a tight-fitting face respirator and a face mask/covering?
A1: Tight-fitting face respirators (respirators A-E in Figure 1) are designed, evaluated, and tested to meet filtration
requirements set by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These respirators are certi-
fied into three classes of filters (N, R, P) with three levels of filter efficiency (95, 99, 99.9%) tested to capture particles
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as small as 0.3 microns (µm).
Face masks and other coverings are designed to protect the wearer from breathing in or out larger aerosolized
droplets generated in the upper respiratory tract and are not rated to a specific filtration standard for smaller parti-
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cles.
Q2: Can I use a face mask/covering to protect myself against occupational hazards such as grind dust or respirable
silica?
A2: No. General face masks/covering are not rated or designed to filter incoming air at the levels of protection need-
ed to prevent occupational illness from grind dust or respirable silica. Additionally, the loose-fitting nature of these
general masks do not allow for a tight seal by the wearer, resulting in particle penetration in and around openings.
Q3: Can I reuse a mask or respirator?

A3: Yes. Cloth face covering such as the recently distributed Loram neck-gaiters should be cleaned regularly. Reusa-
ble respirators (D & E) from the figure above should routinely be disinfected with alcohol wipes. Disposable respira-
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tors (A-C) should not be cleaned as traditional methods of cleaning have been shown to decrease filtration effi-
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ciency. Disposable respirators can continue to be used to prevent exposure to occupational hazards such as grind
dust and respirable silica unless they have been damaged/deformed, no longer seal to the wearers face, are visibly
overloaded with contamination, or become difficult to breathe through.
Continued

PAGE 3 AUGUST 2020