Masks have been in the news a lot since COVID. Health professionals and the Ministry of Health recommend wearing masks in public to reduce the spread of the virus. They also claim that different kinds of masks are more effective than others. Two kinds that are often mentioned as most effective are N95 masks and P2 Mask. So what’s the difference between the two, and when do you need one of these instead of a normal mask?

What’s the difference between N95 Masks and P2 Masks?

While you may hear both terms, they’re actually talking about the same kind of mask.

“N95” is based on the set of testing standards they use over in the USA. They are based on the United States National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health standards. The N stands for “Non-oil”. This means it’s appropriate for worksites where no oil is present because it’s not resistant to oil. The 95 means that they are 95 percent efficient–they filter out 95% of all particles in the air.

“P2” is based on the Australia and New Zealand standards, AS/NZS1716 for Respiratory Protective Devices. P2 masks filter at least 94% of airborne particles and protect against small particles from mechanical processes like grinding and particles generated from thermal processes like welding. They are also effective for small particles like bacteria and viruses like COVID-19. It tests for similar situations as the USA test so the masks are nearly identical.

Design of P2 Masks and N95 Masks

Since these masks were made to protect in similar situations, they have the same design. They are half-face respirators–they don’t cover the eyes–and have a more robust fit. The extra fitting options let them make a tight seal so that no particles can get around the mask. In fact, the standards require a person to be fitted properly when these kinds of masks are required in the workplace.

The masks also have a cartridge filter that keeps out airborne particles. Filterless masks provide some protection, but it’s the filter that keeps out the majority of particles. Some other kinds of masks do have filters, but don’t have the proper fit so particles can get around them.

This is why P2 masks are so effective. They have a strong filter AND a tight fit that creates a seal. To find out more details about the design of the masks and the testing standards, see this respirator factsheet from 3m.

Do I need a P2 (N95) Mask?

If you’re in a high-risk environment, a P2 mask can increase your protection compared to surgical or normal reusable masks. However, they are in limited stock and you might not need them in low-risk areas like quick trips to the Supermarket in areas without active COVID cases. Ultimately it’s up to you if you would prefer the extra protection from a P2 mask if they aren’t required in your workplace.

What is PPE?

PPE has been in the news a lot lately due to COVID-19. If you’d never heard the phrase before, you aren’t alone. But PPE has always been an important part of personal safety–and will continue to be an essential part of safety once things are settled back to normal too. So what exactly is PPE and what does it include?

What does PPE mean?

PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment. Basically, PPE is anything that will protect your person from hazards in the workplace. Every workplace has some kind of hazards to deal with. But some have more than others.

There are several different classifications of hazards, and the piece of equipment will have a rating for how well it deals with a specific hazard. Some of these hazards include electrical, fire, chemical, radiation and physical (cuts etc.).

Types of PPE

PPE is all about protecting you from harm. Some of the types of PPE that you’ll commonly see are:

Head protection

The head is arguably the most important part of the body, so proper protection is crucial. Helmets or hard hats are a requirement in many types of jobs for good reason. They protect against falling objects but also lacerations, heat, and other hazards.

Eye protection

Protecting the eyes is very important because the eyes are easily damaged and that damage can be long-term. Eye protection typically includes goggles and safety glasses, but also face shields. Eye protection can protect from things like gases and vapours, flung objects and shards, and harmful light like lasers and ultraviolet.

Hand protection

For many people, hands are their livelihood. So it’s important to keep them protected. Hand protection is mostly gloves but also includes products like hand sanitiser too. The type of gloves varies widely depending on the industry. Disposable gloves are required for many health workers, and working gloves like welding gloves, chemical-resistant gloves, cut-proof gloves are used in other industries.

Every pair of gloves comes with a four-digit code, with each digit representing a different level of safety in a different area of protection. We recently had a glove expert come by and explain these safety levels in detail, check out the video below to find out more!

Hearing protection

Many workplaces have an extremely loud environment and equipment that doesn’t have a quiet mode. Hearing protection helps safeguard your ears and hearing from these noises that can become damaging over time. Basic earplugs are enough for some jobs. But others require something more robust. Radio earmuffs are an excellent double-up. They’ll provide protection from environmental sounds while still letting you hear from other people on the job.

Chest and body protection

The majority of your vital organs are in the torso, and chest and body protection helps to keep them protected. Body protection includes items like vests that are resistant to hazards. Another important thing in body protection is high-visibility. High vis clothing is essential for some jobs at night but is also good to have anywhere in low-light conditions where visibility is low.

Respiratory Protection

Respiratory protection is all about making sure that you can breathe properly. The equipment ensures that you get the oxygen you need and keeps out harmful gases and particles out of your lungs. Masks work in some instances but for more intensive purposes, a respirator filters out any harmful particles to keep your lungs safe.

What level of PPE do I need?

While it might seem like getting the highest protection is ideal, that’s not always the case. Greater levels of protection not only come with a higher cost, but they tend to be harder to manoeuvre in, slowing down movement and other tasks.

There are minimum safety requirements for different kinds of jobs. Any employer will have this information on file. If you work for yourself, you can find the requirements that were put in place by the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

Where do I get PPE?

You can get your required PPE at most safety shops around New Zealand. At Safety1st, we have a large range of protective gear including gloves, boots, first aid kits, safety glasses, and much more. Take a look at our shop page and order the PPE you need for your job or next project.

These days most workplaces are (quite rightly) not overly hazardous. In this modern work environment, the risk of eye injury is likely to be considered minimal and having to wear safety glasses unnecessary.

But it’s worth reminding ourselves—and our employees—just how easily the human eye can be damaged, and by a variety of hazards: splinters, chips, dust, protruding objects, pressurized fluids, chemical splashes, vapours, gases and UV light.

Workplace eye injuries are in fact very common.

A US Bureau of Labor Statistics survey showed that nearly 60% of workers who suffered an eye injury at work were not wearing any eye protection when the accident occurred, and the workers usually reported that they didn’t think protection was required in the situation. In 2015 the large number of 12,000 New Zealanders filed a claim with ACC for an eye injury suffered at work.

Over 90% of these workplace eye injuries were due to four main causes:

1. Being struck in the eye by flying particles and objects such as nuts, bolts, ball bearings, springs, and fragments from abrasive blasting and grinding.

2. Striking the eye against an object, for instance by blundering into a protruding piece of equipment.

3. Eye contact with:

• Splashes of molten metals, hot liquids, corrosive chemicals, irritant liquids, infectious agents.
• Fumes—corrosive, irritant.
• Dusts—organic, chemical, abrasive, corrosive. Exposure to radiation from welding flash, ultraviolet or infrared radiation, very hot substances, laser beams, laser reflection or fibre optics.

Exposure to radiation from welding flash, ultraviolet or infrared radiation, very hot substances, laser beams, laser reflection or fibre optics.

When should I wear safety eyewear?

Eye dangers are in every workplace, but some jobs are riskier than others. Especially at risk are manufacturing workers and tradesmen—assemblers, builders, concrete workers, plumbers, mechanics, tool or equipment operators for example.

Whether or not you think eye injuries are likely in your workplace you still need make an educated assessment of the hazards. Being aware of your surroundings is an important part of staying safe.

Look at your work environment and analyse it from a ‘what if—worst case scenario’ point of view. Is there any risk from:

• Flying particles? (including dust and splinters, chips or shavings)
• Protruding items? (particularly common in workshops and construction sites)
• Chemicals? (splashes and fumes)
• Fluids? (molten metal, pressurized
• Compressed air?
• Radiation? (intense visible light including sunlight and arc welding, UV light, heat/infrared radiation, lasers)
• Pathogens? (splashes/contact with potentially infectious body fluids or biohazards)

If any of these hazards are present, you need to think seriously about making safety eyewear compulsory in that area of the workplace.

Choosing the Right Safety Footwear for your employees regularly who work in hazardous environments where proper foot protection is a must. Safety King distributes safety footwear suitable for virtually any work environment. 

But how do you choose the right safety footwear?

Risk assessments for Safety Footwear

When deciding which is the best safety footwear for the job think about the task and environment.

• Is there a risk of falling objects?
• Is there a risk of sharp objects penetrating the sole of the shoe?
• Are there slippery surfaces in the workplace?
• Is there a need for cut protection (i.e. chainsaw operation)?
• Are acids/ alkalis/ chemicals present in the workplace?
• Is heel or ankle support required?
• Is there a risk of twisting or spraining the ankle?
• Are works at risk of contact with molten metal?
• Are employees working in very wet or damp conditions?
• Is there a risk of contact with temperature extremes?
• Is the employee on their feet for long hours?
• Do you need it to coincide with other PPE?

The Right Safety Footwear Focuses on protection from primary risks

Concentrate on the real risks – those that are most likely to cause harm.

Ask your employees/colleagues what they think the hazards are – they may notice things that are not obvious to you and may have some good ideas on how to control the risks.

Review the risks regularly in case circumstances in the workplace change.

Safety footwears main aim is protecting the toes and base of the feet; toe protectors are a minimum requirement in many industries. However you may need more than this.

Think about the job that you do. The right safety footwear for you depends on your job. For example, a person who is working on a building site/demolition workplace would be unwise to buy a safety product that did not have a mid-sole to protect against underfoot nail penetration. A person working in a petrol station or any place of work where there is a high risk of flammability should buy boots with antistatic/electrical-resistance properties.

Get the right size and fit and don’t compromise on comfort

Comfortable safety boots make all the difference – you’re going to spend a large chunk of the day with them on your feet! The right fit can make all the difference!

Never buy second-hand footwear

There’s no room for debate here. Second hand blackwoods safety footwear are not the best option as you do not know the history. Any sign of damage to the toe cap or mid-sole it is best to replace the item.

Think about aftercare to increase the lifespan of your safety footwear

In order to maintain safety footwear correctly, it is particularly important to air and dry them well after each use – leather shoes will take at least 24 to 48 hours to dry out completely. It is therefore advisable to use a second pair of safety shoes. Due to these longer regeneration phases, this also extends the respective useful life of the shoes.

It is best not to dry wet shoes using a heater, solid fuel burner or shoe dryer. Leather shoes in particular will become hard and brittle as a result, which will cause the shoe to wear out prematurely. Dry i a well ventilated space.

Undo your laces fully and stuff your wet shoes with paper. Leave them to dry slowly and, if necessary, replace the wet paper until the shoes are completely dry.

Remove heavy soiling from the safety footwear before drying using a brush and lukewarm water. Since dirt can have a severe impact on their breathability, affecting the climate within the shoe. After cleaning, we recommend treating the shoes with standard care products.

Choose the right safety footwear for your work

Choosing the right safety footwear for your work can have a huge impact on day to day life, especially if something was to go horribly wrong. Taking preventative measures whilst working in a hazardous environment could be the difference between severe injury and being able to continue as normal. Take a look at our footwear to see what we have available and find a good fit for your job.