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Pandemic Planning

Should I use masks/respirators at work?

What type should I use?
Introducing masks/respirators properly
How to wear a respirator

Masks and respirators can reduce the risk of catching and spreading flu. However, there are limits on their effectiveness, and they are not practical for all workplaces. Masks and respirators do not offer total protection, so other steps – such as improved hygiene – should still be used. They can only work when used properly, meaning staff must be well trained.

To help work out if masks and respirators are appropriate for your workplace, ask yourself these questions:

• How great is the risk faced by my organisation? Use our Risk analysis tool to clarify the level of risk
• How long will staff be wearing the respirators? Wearing a respirator for long periods can be impractical. Length of use also determines how long a respirator will remain effective, so several may be needed per person per day
• What are the environmental conditions? In hot or humid conditions it may be impossible to wear a respirator for more than a few minutes
• How much is known about the health of individual staff members? People with respiratory problems may not be able to wear a respirator
• What tasks will be performed and how much effort will they require? Some body movements can affect the face seal, while rapid panting can move the respirator away from the face and break the seal
• Do you have the resources to train staff in using respirators properly? To be fully effective respirators must be used properly
• Is there enough time for staff to practice using respirators? Familiarity and practice can improve effectiveness
• Are staff willing to wear respirators? If you know people won’t wear them it may not be worth providing them
• What is the cost and availability of respirators?

Which type should I use

If the risk of infection is medium to high use a mask or respirator with an N95 or P2 rating. If the risk is high and ventilation is poor - consider using a positive pressure respirator, such as an FPBR.

Surgical masks afford a significantly lower level of protection than an N95 or P2 mask. However, surgical masks can help reduce the risks of dealing with flu patients, when the patient wears a surgical mask and the worker dealing with them wears a P2 or N95 mask.

Cartridge respirators and air purifying respirators are not appropriate for most workplaces

Introducing masks/respirators properly

The steps below will help you introduce respirators successfully.

Stage	What you need to do	How to do it	Where to get more help
Preparation	Assess how using respirators might affect the way your staff work, and any limits on the protection they offer.	- Assess the likely effectiveness of respirators in your workplace, given the risks faced and type of respirator selected - Where necessary introduce additional protections such as medical screening for those at most risk - Assess how the work environment and tasks performed might interfere with the effectiveness of respirators - Make changes to workloads and practices as necessary. For example, workloads may need to be reduced so respirators can be worn for longer - Identify staff members who, for medical reasons, may not be able to use respirators. This may include those with Asthma and respiratory conditions.	- Ministry of Health - Sellers & manufacturers of respirators - Medical advisors
Information	Inform staff about the need to use respirators, their limitations, and how they fit in with other means of protection	- Use training sessions and other existing means of communicating with staff.	- Ministry of Health - Sellers & manufacturers of respirators
Training	Ensure staff know how to fit, use and dispose of respirators.	See Training to use respirators below	- Ministry of Health - Sellers & manufacturers of respirators
Practice	Ensure staff have enough practice that they become competent at fitting respirators properly.	Create opportunities to practice respirator fitting and use as part of normal duties.
Supervision	Supervise proper fitting and use of respirators	Train supervisors in the correct fitting and use of respirators Monitoring of staff compliance.

How to wear a respirator

How to Wear a Respirator covers putting on the respirator, performing a pressure check and removing the respirator. How to Wear a Respirator is also available for download as an A4 sized poster. [pdf 1 page 447KB]

Putting it on

1. 
   Cup the respirator in your hand with the nosepiece at your fingertips. Allow the head straps to hang freely below your hand.
2. 
   Position the respirator under your chin with the nosepiece facing upward.
3. 
   Holding the respirator in place, pull the top strap over your head so it sits high on the back of your head.
4. 
   Keep hold of the respirator, pull the bottom strap over your head and position it around your neck below your ears. Position the respirator low on your nose and ensure the straps are not twisted.
5. 
   Using both hands, mould the nosepiece to the shape of your nose by pushing inward while sliding your fingertips down both sides of the nosepiece.
   Note: Use both hands to do this, pinching with one hand may result in an improper fit and will affect the respirators performance.

Pressure check

1. 
   Check the respirator seal before each use. To perform a pressure fit check, place both hands completely over the respirator without disturbing the position – and exhale sharply. If air leaks around your nose, adjust the nosepiece as per step 5. If air leaks at the respirator edges, adjust the straps beside and behind your head and neck. Perform the fit check again. If you cannot achieve a proper seal, see your health and safety supervisor. Do not enter an area requiring a respirator.

Taking it off

1. 
   Hold the respirator in your hand, keep it positioned on your face. Pull the bottom strap over your head.
2. 
   Keep holding the respirator on your face. Pull the top strap over your head.
3. 
   Remove the respirator from your face and store or discard it according to your workplace’s policy.

   Always wash your hands after removing your respirator.

 

Training to use respirators – checklist

To work properly respirators must be used correctly. The checklist below shows the training staff need so they can do this. This training should be done well before the need to use respirators arises.

Training topic	Checklist of what staff need to know
When to use a respirator	Tell staff why they are being asked to use respirators, as well as when and where to use them. Explaining the need for respirators will encourage compliance That different types of respirator offer different levels of protection, so staff need to ensure they are using the right respirator for the risks involved That staff should not engage in high risk activities without wearing the right respirator That in some situations, using a respirator may be impractical because of the tasks involved or the work environment. Some tasks are too strenuous, while some environments are too hot or humid. Explain what staff should do in these situations That staff with respiratory conditions may need a medical assessment before using a respirator. Respirators can affect the health of people with some respiratory conditions.
Limitations	That there are limits on the protection offered by respirators That it is important to use other types of protections, such as social distancing and correct hand washing That respirators only work properly if they are used properly, meaning staff need training and practice using their respirator.
Fitting	That a badly fitting respirator is ineffective That there are different sized respirators available to suit different face shapes and sizes That facial hair stops disposable masks working properly How to put a respirator on so it will fit correctly. (See poster below showing correct way to fit a mask, or view it at www.dol.govt.nz) That there’s a knack to fitting mask correctly – so practice is needed before the need to use respirators arises.
Fit checking	That it’s important to check the fit of respirator every time you put one on How to perform check the fit (see www.dol.govt.nz).
Removal and Disposal	How to safely remove and dispose of a respirator.

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