Episode 656: Lisa M Brosseau, ScD, CIH - Masking and Respirators; Lessons from COVID-19

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Show Discussion:

12:03:49 From Donald Weekes : GHS
12:04:03 From John Lapotaire : Hazard Communication Standard: Labels and Pictograms
12:04:52 From Donald Weekes : Global Harmomy System
12:05:28 From Donald Weekes : Global Harmonized System (GHS)
12:05:58 From John Lapotaire : I believe you are correct Don
12:06:37 From Donald Weekes : Maybe, John! Let's see what Cliff says!
12:07:57 From John Lapotaire :
12:08:01 From cliff zlotnik : intended to minimize worker exposures to hazardous chemicals and other risk factors in the workplace an international example of this concept in use is the procedure for the transportation of dangerous chemicals whereby chemicals are classified with United Nations (UN) codes that are used for identifying safe storage rules, permitted types of transport container, and actions to take in an emergency. Name the concept? Sorry not what we were looking for. concept intended to minimize worker exposures to hazardous chemicals.
12:08:46 From Donald Weekes : Control banding?
12:09:23 From cliff zlotnik : CORRECT DON!!! well done. please send your address to: czlotnik@cs.com
12:09:38 From John Lapotaire : Nice Work
12:11:22 From Donald Weekes : Thanks, Cliff! Sent my address by email.
12:13:01 From Donald Weekes : Thanks, John!
12:17:41 From Terry Sopher Sr : As you know well, current approved OSHA respirators are (1) difficult to fit variety of faces, & (2) very uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time [sweating, fogging etc) & (3) many of the materials they’re made with can have chemical odors, skin irritation, etc. What are the obstacles to solving these problems?
12:21:32 From Donald Weekes : https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/usernot ... tResp.html
12:45:16 From Donald Weekes : https://www.acgih.org/covid-19-fact-sheet-worker-resp/
12:48:05 From Terry Sopher Sr : What i found ironic & wrong-headed during pandemic was the professionals who argued that for public, a N95 respirator would be LESS effective cuz they couldn’t be ‘fit-tested’. Wrong-headed: (1) assumes cloth mask or surgical mask is well sealed, which they are not; (2) Dr Brosseau’s research proves even non-fit tested N95 provides signif more filtration efficiency.
12:55:46 From megeyer : Yes !!! And this is why a one-size-fits all fails everything. Thanks Cliff.
13:03:17 From Ralph Froehlich : Given the widespread use of face coverings, surgical masks and filtering-facepiece respirators, can we expect to reduce the requirements for medical evaluation, training and fit-testing for use of respirators by members of the public?

[RadioJoe]

Another great interview with Dr. Brosseau. The idea that we should have got people better respirators and focused on protecting yourself should be considered more seriously.

Health care workers need proper respirators. This will bite us in the ass again if we do not make sure it happens now. There will be other pandemics, biological and chemical attacks etc. and much (maybe most) of our health care industry is still not prepared.

[CliffZ]

Until today, I never understood why anyone could walk into a hardware store or a Home Depot and purchase PPE BUT a business needed to have a written Respiratory Protection Program with medical evaluation and fit testing. Dr. Brosseau's point and proof that more protective respiratory protection devices work better than less protective devices even when not used 100% correctly is telling. So better PPE is better than nothing even when misused.

Respirators should come with a vial of irritant, something like "smelling salts" so consumers can do their own PPE fit testing.

How can the healthcare industry be so wrong about respiratory protection for so long? They need to wakeup!

Today's silicone half face respirators are so much more comfortable than the rubber ones.

Too bad that the issue of masking got soooo politicized and sooo much animosity created needlessly. It's amazing how politicians can opine strongly on an issue and then make a 180 degree turn on the issue and act as though they always held this opposite opinion from the beginning.

Truth in journalism is rare today. Today these sleazebags will knowingly hype misinformation for ratings or political purposes.

Things learned from Covid:
• More respirator innovation in the last 2 years than in the prior 20. (more comfort, better communication)
• NIOSH Mission of helping small businesses develop and improve designs.
• Continue NIOSH contest and award larger cash prizes.
• Industrial hygienists need to think about infectious disease.
• Recognition that workers are both the source of infection and need to be protected from infection.
• ASTM has developed a new standard. Push for a new public standard.
• Development of simpler fit testing methods for consumers.
• Respirator-like masks for the public are around the corner.

Dr. Brosseau’s Recommended Resources:

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspec ... protection

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspec ... d-why-most

Reusable Elastomeric Respirators and Health Care Surges ...
https://www.jointcommission.org › resources › news-and-multimedia › blogs › improvement-insights › 2020 › 04 › reusable-elastomeric-respirators-and-health-care-surges
Stella Hines, MD, MSPH, is assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recommends that reusable elastomeric respirators be considered for routine and surge use in health care respiratory protection programs (RPPs), provided cleaning and disinfection protocols are specified.

Z-Man Signing Off