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Respirator filters are rated according to how much particulate matter they can reliably block and what environments they’re best suited for. This is why you’ll see respirators and filters with names like N95 or P100. The letter refers to how resistant the product is to oil, how tightly the material is woven, and the static charge contained in the material. The number represents the percentage of particles that are filtered out. When it comes to personal respiratory protection, P100 is the h …

Wearing masks in public has become a crucial part of protection for COVID-19. Some states and major cities have made mask-wearing a requirement. “Masks” can mean handkerchiefs, specially designed cotton masks, or disposable masks (such as N95 respirators) as long as they cover your nose and mouth. However, some locations have banned masks with valves. What is a Mask Valve? Some masks or respirators will have a piece of plastic embedded in the fabric. This plastic is a one-way valve …

The COVID-19 crisis has left hospitals in a difficult position. More personal protective equipment is desperately needed, and while some protection is better than nothing, healthcare providers who work closely with coronavirus patients need an N95 mask rather than a surgical mask. Civil-grade, low-quality, or counterfeit masks just don’t offer the same protection for patients or providers, and it’s important that providers know what kind of protective gear they’re getting. Luckily, there a …

When using a respirator or N95 facemask on the job, you will need to replace your respirator filter or cartridge from time to time to make sure your respirator is working properly. At PK Safety, we get this question quite a bit, “When do I change my respirator filter?” The truth is that there is no one right answer. The lifespan of your filter or cartridge depends on how often you’re using your respirator, the target substance, and the conditions of your work environment. Use these tips …

The recent Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak has created a lot of changes to how daily lives are lived and medical personnel perform their jobs. The shortage of N95 respirators has happened before (SARS, MERS, etc.), just not on this scale. The CDC does not recommend that the general public wears N95 respirators as protection from COVID-19 or other respiratory diseases: the best way to prevent illness is to avoid exposure, and respirators are invaluable to healthcare workers that need the added …

The 2019 outbreak of Coronavirus has changed the way we live our daily lives. These changes definitely affect businesses—everything from travel to in-person interactions has changed to prevent further virus transmission. It’s important for businesses of all sizes to know how to respond to the virus as soon as possible: here are some of the best and most up-to-date online resources for small businesses to keep employees, families, and communities safe. OSHA The Occupational Safety and H …

If you and your team need to wear respirators on the job, it helps to have a means of comparing the relative protection between different respirators and filters. These ratings are designed to help protect you and your workers from different sets of airborne hazards. Sawdust and particles containing asbestos fibers are not the same. Neither should we use the same filter. If you use the wrong type of mask on the job, it could put you and your team at risk.  Learn more about N-, R-, …

For a lot of job sites, safety masks and respirators are an essential piece of PPE. The lungs are delicate, important organs that are hard to repair if they get damaged, and inhaling the wrong chemical can have devastating effects on other areas of the body as well. Protect yourself from invisible airborne particles by investing in a respirator or mask suited to your job. How Masks and Respirators Are Rated The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is a divisio …

Exposure to mold and asbestos can wreak havoc on your health. Encountering these substances can lead to a range of health concerns. Breathing in asbestos can lead to asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, while exposure to mold can lead to throat irritation, nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, coughing and other respiratory issues, and skin irritation. As an employer or someone at risk of encountering these substances, it’s important to protect yourself on the job. If you are working i …

Respirators are designed to protect you from all sorts of potential airborne hazards, including lead and silica dust, mold, asbestos, and toxic gases. But a respirator mask won’t protect you from these hazards if it doesn’t fit your face properly. If there is any distance between the mask and the sides of your face, these toxins and hazards could easily slip inside the face mask. Exposure to these substances can lead to a range of health concerns, including respiratory conditions, cance …