Beyond doubt, KN95 and N95 masks are presently the leading models of personal protective equipment owning to the multiple functions and the comfort they provide while in use for long hours. They are used to prevent the user from airborne pollution particles and avoid some liquid contaminants from infecting the wearer’s face. Because of the numerous advantages they offer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has always sturdily recommended these masks to be used in select areas where infections and contaminations are on the utmost concern.
To begin with, what are KN95 and N95 masks?
They are respiratory protective devices which are very efficient in filtering airborne pollution particles to enhance quality air-breathing. N95 and KN95 masks are mainly used in the healthcare sector and factory working environment for their capacity to provide maximum protection against fluid particles, viruses, bacteria, and other infections.
It is important to note that N95 and KN95 masks are essential personal protective equipment supplies that are presently strictly restricted for health care workers and other medical professionals. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend that the general public should wear N95 and KN95 respirators to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
Most N95 and KN95 masks are basically made for use in construction settings and other industrial jobs where workers are prone to be exposed to dust and small particles in order to avoid workers from contracting some infections. Consequently, the masks are regulated by the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a subset of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
One of the reasons these masks are strongly recommended for the health and industrial personnel is that these respiratory protective devices, when worn by health care personnel during procedures, may help both the patient and healthcare worker avoid the transfer of body fluids and microorganisms and other particulate materials. They also offer industrial workers the benefit of dealing with dust and freely without breathing in contaminated particles. These respirators are ideally single-use, disposable which means they are not be used more than once.
The following are other vital importance of the KN95 and N95 masks that makes them most sorted in this present pandemic.
- These respirators are purposed to help prevent specific diseases or infections.
- They are also represented as a device to filter surgical smoke or plumes, filtering particular large amounts of bacteria, reducing the number of viruses, fungi, or affecting allergenicity.
- They contain coating technologies that enhance filtration.
- They can be used comfortably for long hours at work.
- They block 95% (or more) airborne particles.
- Provide maximum protection against fluid particles and bacteria.
- The seal formed in KN95 and N95 respirator masks offer better protection of mouth and nose than surgical masks, which filter only the outgoing air.