by Natalie Edwards

With respiratory safety and social distancing a big concern for many businesses, there is huge demand for disposable masks.  However a safer and more economical alternative to disposable masks are half face, or full face respirators.  Here's a quick overview on why these are a better alternative to disposable masks:

 

Why Reusable Half face respirators, protect workers in industrial environments better.

Disposable Masks

X Uneconomical – due to the COVID-19 pandemic these masks are increasingly unavailable, and the cost of supply has increased by 3-4 times, making them uneconomical for everyday use)

 

X Can not be cleaned – must be replaced frequently

 

X Designed to wear for short periods of time – would require multiple masks per person, per day. (Long term wear causes rashes/skin conditions) 

 

X Hard to fit correctly to enable a proper level of protection. 

Half Face Respirators 

√ Cost efficient option – respirators can be reused, and filters can last up to 6 months after being removed from original packaging. 

 

√ Can be washed, sprayed with hand sanitisers to keep these clean. 

 

√ Designed to enable all day wear, made of special grade silicon, Smoother feel and more flexible to conform to the face. Providing better seal and comfort.

 

√ Easy to fit with flexible silicon face seal and 4-point harness, to reduce tension and pressure points. Easy adjustment strap length. Comes in 3 sizes to help fit every face. 

 

√ Will still be useful after COVID-19 restrictions have been removed for all types of work (eg; sanding, welding, spraying and special site works) 

Yes -  KN95, N95 and P2 rated masks are all certified to filter up to at least 94% of tiny particles, which is one of the most important features.  However the American and Chinese standards for breathability are less strict than New Zealand and Australia’s, so it's possible masks rated KN95 or N95 may not be as easy to breathe in.