Page 40 - OHS, January/February 2021

PPE: RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
The Difference Between Surgical Masks and N95s
With the entrance of PPE in the public’s everyday vocabulary, it is important to note the differences in masks and respirators.
BY JEFFREY BIRKNER, PH.D., CIH AND CHRIS AREY
It’s a question that has grown in popularity this year and with good reason: What is the difference between a surgical mask and a N95 respirator?
While both may be referred to as “masks,” these two pro- tective devices are actually used for different functions. From how they fit the user’s face to the intended uses, surgical masks and N95 respirators are very different kinds of masks. Below is a breakdown of what separates surgical masks from N95s and the levels of pro- tection that they provide.
Surgical Masks
The FDA says “a surgical mask is a loose-fitting, disposable device that creates a physical barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer and potential contaminants in the immediate environ- ment.”1 By design, a surgical mask is intended to prevent physi- cal liquids such as splashes or sprays from blood or sputum from entering the environment. The FDA adds that a surgical mask may be effective in blocking splashes and large-particle droplets, but it does not filter or block very small particles in the air that may be transmitted by coughs, sneezes or certain medical procedures.
Surgical masks are designed to cover the mouth and nose loose- ly and are not sized for individual fit. One of the major differences
between a surgical mask and a N95 filtering face piece respirator is that surgical masks are not intended to provide respiratory protec- tion to the wearer since they do not effectively filter smaller air- borne particles.
In addition, surgical masks have not met all the standards that a N95 or higher-level respirator has. They are not approved by the National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health (NIOSH), but instead are cleared by the FDA. Surgical masks also are not intend- ed to provide a tight-fitting seal on users’ faces. Generally speaking, surgical masks are not intended for the wearer’s protection from small particles, but rather to protect the surgical field from con- tamination by the wearer.
It should be noted that surgical masks are not to be confused with cloth face coverings. Cloth face coverings have increased in popularity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and have been advised by the CDC for general public use.2 However, cloth face coverings are not the same as surgical masks. Cloth face coverings do not require FDA approval, nor do they provide the same type of protection.
N95 Respirators
N95 respirators are respiratory protective devices designed to
36 Occupational Health & Safety | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
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