Page 48 - OHS, July/August 2020

PPE: HEAD PROTECTION
The Hazards You Face: Navigating COVID-19 Face Mask Guidance & FR Hazards in the Workplace
How do face coverings help in the workplace? How should an employer approach mask selection when additional workplace hazards are identified?
BY ALLIE FLETCHER AND CATHERINE BREAR
In the face of the COVID-19 outbreak, we are living through truly unprecedented times. Not only is COVID-19 caused by a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, but studies and guidance are con-
stantly evolving as the number of cases fluctuates in many areas of the world.
One of the areas where guidance continues to evolve includes face coverings and masks. How might wearing face coverings or masks help slow the spread of COVID-19? What does this look like in the work- place? How should an employer approach mask selec- tion when additional workplace hazards are identified?
As of April 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends “wear- ing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain... especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.”1 Per the CDC, “cloth face coverings provide an extra layer to help prevent the respiratory droplets from traveling in the air and onto other peo- ple.”2Ifeveryonewearsaclothfacecoveringwhenout in public, the risk of exposure to the coronavirus can be greatly reduced for the community. It’s important to note that these masks should be used in addition to social distancing, frequent and thorough hand-wash- ing, and other prevention measures.
With this guidance, the CDC recommends your cloth face covering:
■ fits snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
■ completely covers the nose and mouth
■ is secured with ties or ear loops
■ includes multiple layers of fabric
■ allows for breathing without restriction
■ can be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape
■ should be washed after each use
Applying CDC and OSHA Guidance
to the Workplace
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), worker risk of occupational exposure to the virus depends on a worker’s ability to social distance—at least six feet of separation—be- tween people known to be, or suspected of being, in- fected.3 To help employers determine appropriate pre- cautions, OSHA has divided job tasks into a pyramid of four risk exposure levels: very high, high, medium, and low risk.4 The four exposure risk levels represent the probable distribution of risk and are represented in Figure 1.
The very high and high categories are primarily associated with healthcare and emergency medical services (EMS) workers on the frontlines in direct or close contact with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients. Most American workers—including those in manufacturing and industrial facilities—will likely fall in the low or medium exposure risk levels. Those who do not have frequent close contact with others would fall into the low risk category, especially if additional controls have been put into place to limit how many workers are in a given work area at one time. Medium exposure risk jobs include those that require frequent and/or close contact with people (i.e., within six feet of one another).
Face Covering Options to Consider
There are a variety of different types of face coverings available today—respirators, medical masks, and a new, third category of masks that has developed from the CDC guidance, which we are calling social dis- tancing face coverings. These categories of masks have different properties, are tested to different standards, and are used for different purposes and settings.
Respirators (like N95 masks) are designed to re- duce exposure to both large and small particles and are individually fitted to the wearer to ensure a proper seal around the nose and mouth. When properly fit- ted and donned, there is minimal leakage when the wearer inhales.5 An N95 respirator is considered es- sential personal protective equipment (PPE) for our
42 Occupational Health & Safety | JULY/AUGUST 2020
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