Plymouth State University sent out an email informing students and faculty of their COVID19 guidelines and requirements for the new semester*. Along with the usual garbage was a mask mandate notice requiring everyone to wear N95 respirators.
Mandatory masks indoors. Weekly mandatory PCR testing. And this.
Masks Will Be Required Indoors.We are working to secure additional medical-grade face masks (KN-95) to be distributed to employees and students as they become available. If you have medical grade masks available to you please bring these to campus so you can use them during the start of the semester. Please note that cloth masks will continue to be accepted for use at this time but some classes may require that medical grade masks be worn in the classroom.
Not for nothin’, but the N95 respirator is an OSHA-regulated piece of protective equipment. There are lots of regulations (here’s one example). That means there are conditions and guidelines for not just use but proper and effective use, especially when employers require them of employees.
Employers should reference this guide to help educate their employees on the proper use and limitations of this type of PPE. Teach them how to use it and for how long.
There are Respiratory Protection Guidelines and Compliance guides.
Both the filtering facepiece (N95) respirators and the surgical (N95) respirators must be fit tested to ensure that a proper seal exists between the employee’s face and the respirator. Both of the respirators provide protection from exposures to airborne influenza flu viruses. Whenever respirators are required by employees (e.g., N95 and Surgical N95 respirators), they must be NIOSH-certified and selected and used in compliance with OSHA
Oh, and by the way, same page – for all your cloth and regular mask mandating Karens out there…”Surgical masks are not designed or certified to prevent the inhalation of small airborne particles that are not visible to the naked eye but may still be capable of causing infection. “
There is a checklist for fit-testing, and several other goodies, not mentioned in the email to faculty and students.
And implementing the N95 without proper training or an understanding of proper fit would be pointless. The same guide also notes several issues that interfere with the effectiveness of the N95.
Conditions that can interfere with the seal or valve are specified in the standard and include:
• Facial hair;
• Facial scars;
• Jewelry or headgear that projects under the facepiece seal;
• Missing dentures; and
• Corrective glasses or goggles or other protective
equipment such as:
– Face shields
– Protective clothing
– Helmets
– Eyeglass insert or spectacle kit
What’s their plan for addressing any or all of these points? I’m sure they don’t have one. I suspect all they did was decide that N95 masks were better (regardless of other factors). Irrespective of any other factors.
N95 is better. Let’s make everyone wear those!
We could go on, but that’s probably enough to get things rolling in the right direction.
Wait, one more point.
Wearing the N95 “mask” can come with side effects.
Prolonged use of N95 and surgical masks by healthcare professionals during COVID-19 has caused adverse effects such as headaches, rash, acne, skin breakdown, and impaired cognition in the majority of those surveyed. As a second wave of COVID-19 is expected, and in preparation for future pandemics, it is imperative to identify solutions to manage these adverse effects. Frequent breaks, improved hydration and rest, skin care, and potentially newly designed comfortable masks are recommendations for future management of adverse effects related to prolonged mask use.
Those are just the physical ones. We’ll save the psychological effects for another time.
Note: *A linked PDF version was created from the forwarded email.
