Use of PPE

The use of personal protective equipment (PPE), specifically respirators, is central to any respiratory prevention program. Before we go further, it is important to distinguish between face masks and respirators.

Face masks and surgical masks are protective masks that cover the nose and mouth. They are designed to catch droplets that the wearer may expel when talking, sneezing, or coughing; and to prevent droplets and particles from being inhaled by the wearer. Commonly available face masks and surgical masks do not fit tightly on a person's face. They do NOT protect the wearer from breathing in small particles or droplets that may contain ATDs.

Respirators are protective masks that cover the nose and mouth and seal tightly to the wearer's face. Respirators reduce or prevent the wearer from inhaling hazardous particles and droplets. In appearance, respirators may look similar to common face masks and surgical masks; however, as we will soon learn, respirators are made of materials that must meet federal standards. Furthermore, respirators must be fit to each wearer in order to ensure a tight seal between the respirator and the wearer's face. Ensuring that this is the case is called fit testing.

To learn more about Healthcare Respiratory Protection visit our Cal/OSHA Healthcare Respiratory Protection Safety Online Training web page.