Filtering facepiece respirators are more commonly referred to as dust masks.
This is because they are commonly used in construction as respiratory protection against dust particles.
But do you know how often you can use dust masks?
Although they were not designed for extensive use, they often are.
So, we are going to look at these respirators including when to reuse and when to toss your dust mask out.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has said that it is not always necessary to throw away your dust masks or respirator after a single use.
For the majority of workplaces, it is possible to reuse it as long as it is still providing you with the correct respiratory protection.
The proper and safe reuse of dust masks and respirators is impacted by a number of variables which will affect its function as a protective respirator.
One of the largest contributing factors to this proper function is the amount of contamination the dust mask has suffered.
Unless there is a specified number or duration of time in which the face mask can be safely and effectively used you can use your common sense to determine when and if a masks can be reused or thrown away.
Some manufacturers will state ‘single use’ on their cloth masks and some employers, will specify that a disposable mask should only be used once.
In these cases the instructions should be followed and a single time use observed.
Without a specified duration of use it is up to you to check the dust mask for signs that it is ok to reuse or should be tossed.
The incidences when your face mask should be consigned to the bin include when it is visibly soiled, damp, damaged or stops working effectively.
These rules don't just apply to health care professionals and those concerned with CDC guidelines, but also the general public interested in avoiding infection.
If, when wearing a dust mask, it is causing more breathing resistance this is a definite sign that you need to throw it away.
If you do intend to reuse your dust mask, and it is still performing its job effectively there is one rule that you should stick to.
Only ever wear your own mask and do not share your dust mask with anyone. Unless using a reusable one that has been washed with soap between every use!
This is mainly for hygiene reasons and to ensure that there is no cross contamination of viruses or bacteria. However, there is another reason.
If you are sharing a face mask with someone it is going to potentially wear out quicker, making the ear loops less effective, and you may not know what substances the dust mask has been exposed to close contact to in the air.
When you stick to just wearing your own disposable masks you will know how long it has been used for and what exactly it has been subjected to.
It is strongly recommended to use cloth masks that can be washed between uses.
A cloth mask is also environmentally conscious, as a reusable mask, still serves as a surgical mask, and won't require you to, for example, buy a new disposable mask just to be ready for medical settings and to avoid infection.
As well as keeping your face masks purely for your own wear it is important that you store it in a way that maintains its effectiveness.
This means protecting it from being crushed out of shape and free from contamination.
You may want to make use of multiple masks, and even three masks, so that you can safely reuse by giving them a wash, to further protect your mouth and nose, to ensure that you always have face masks to hand.
The things that can contaminate medical masks are chemicals, damp or excessive moisture and unsurprisingly, dust in the air.
You will also want to preserve your dust mask from sunlight and extremes of temperature.
Most dust masks are quite delicate in their construction so make sure it is not being bent out of shape as this will make the fit on your face much less effective, which is crucial for face masks.
The straps and exhalation valve, if there is one, should be protected from damage too.
The majority of people will not share a dust mask but for those who may be tempted to do so the advice is not to do this and to keep to single-wearer use, especially with a disposable face mask.
This is key for healthcare workers, and helps to keep contaminants from travelling from one person's mouth or nose to another person's mouth or nose.
It is difficult to determine how many uses a dust mask can be subjected to before you should throw it away. This will depend on a number of factors including the presence and level of dust.
So if the dust mask retains its integrity there are other ways to determine whether it can be reused or whether it should be thrown away.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health the deciding factors should be as follows:
Dust masks and most disposable masks can keep you from fine particles as small as 0.3 microns. But the mask is only as good as its fit and function.
If it either doesn’t fit well or the mask's fit is impaired then it will not be effective at stopping particles. Used masks most commonly will not protect adequately.
Let’s examine some of the reasons why you might throw your dust mask away.
If your dust masks or disposable masks become dirty then it is time to get rid of them. If you have reusable masks, then you can wash them.
A dirty dust mask is not going to protect you, and it should not be reused. The maximum amount of dirt or dust that your dust mask should be exposed to is 200 milligrams.
Dust masks or disposable masks that are broken should be tossed away as there is nothing you can do that will make it effective again.
Holes in the fabric or a faulty strap mean the dust mask is not going to fit or function properly.
As we have spoken about, a shared dust mask is not a good idea. If someone else has used yours then you should throw it away and use a fresh one.
This is for hygiene reasons and because you may not know how long the mask was used for or what it was exposed to.
If you must share a mask, try to use a cloth mask that you can wash between uses. These also make for a great surgical mask, and are fantastic personal protective equipment.
Being able to wash them with soap and water is great.
Even if a dust mask is not damaged, dirty or has been shared, if you have worn it for 8 hours straight you should toss it.
This is because germs will have built up inside the dust mask making it unsafe.
Wearing masks for more than 8 hours is ineffective, and is equivalent to using a used mask, or a mask that is not worn properly.
Dust masks are designed to provide you with respiratory protection. If your mask is no longer fitting properly or working effectively then toss it and get a new one.
We hope this guide to dust masks has been useful for you.
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