The disposable N95 mask (respirator), is a safety device that covers your nose and mouth to protect you from inhaling certain hazardous substances. The N95 mask prevents you from inhaling small particles in the atmosphere such as mold and dust. It filters out at least 95% dust and mold from the air. There are many facts about the N95 Masks that you need to know. Here are the answers to these questions.
1: What’s an N95 Mask?
An N95 mask, a disposable filtering facial piece respirator, has two straps. Masks designed to provide N95 protection cannot protect against gases or vapors. It is impossible to use them to provide oxygen or to deal with asbestos. The mask’s “N” designation indicates that it is not immune to oil mists. In Using Disposable Respirators, both in English and in Spanish, are instructions on using filtering facepieces.
2: How and when should an N95-mask be worn?
Working conditions expose workers to harmful airborne contaminants like wildfire smoke. Masks won’t protect users if they don’t seal well with their faces due to factors like facial hair, improper mask fitting, or misplacement.
3: Does an employer have to provide N95-masks to employees?
First, the employer must determine whether respirator use can be considered voluntary or mandatory. If the work environment is hazardous, employers must provide respiratory protection. Employers must provide respirators and have written plans that address: selection of respirators, employee training, medical evaluations of employees’ ability to wear respirators, proper fitting of respirators, proper storage, and cleaning, as well as proper use of respirators.
Employers are required to provide respirators to employees for voluntary use when it is reasonable to expect employee exposure to wildfire smoke. This applies to the current AQI of PM2.5 at 151 and above, but not exceeding 500. When the current AQI of PM2.5 is 500 or higher, respirators are mandatory.
Protecting employees from wildfire smoke in situations where the current AQI exceeds 500, employers must provide respirators with an assigned protective factor as per section 5144. This means that the respirator’s PM2.5 levels correspond to an AQI of less than 151. As soon as the AQI reaches 535, one must wear a respirator with a protection factor greater than 10 (not a disposable mask).
4. Can an employer give N95 masks to employees?
Respirators can be provided by employers to workers upon request or workers can use their own respirators, and employers are not required to provide a written respiratory protection plan or fit-test workers. They must make sure that workers are not using respirators in a way that creates a safety hazard. Employers must provide information to respirator users as per California Code of Regulations Title 8, Section 5144, Appendix C. They must also follow the other requirements of section 5144 subsection (c)(2).
This applies to PM2.5 AQIs of 151 and higher, but not exceeding 500. Refer to section 5141.1. Employees must be provided with training that includes the information in Appendix B of section 5141.1.
5: Workers can bring their own N95 masks to work.
Employers may allow workers to use their respirators voluntarily or provide them at workers’ request. There is no requirement that they provide a written respiratory protection plan or fit-test their workers. Employers must make sure that workers are not using respirators in a way that creates a safety hazard. They must provide information to respirator users as per California Code of Regulations Title 8, section 5144 Appendix D. They must also follow the other requirements of section 5144 subsection (c)(2).
6: Where can workers and employers get N95 masks for their employees?
Online retailers as well as businesses like hardware and industrial supply shops can sell N95 masks. In response to recent wildfires, N95 masks are sometimes available from various agencies, including the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
