Question: Is there something else my employees can use rather than Surgical N95 respirators?

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
section_headers: Respirators
My employees complain that Surgical N95 respirators are hot and uncomfortable - what can I do?
section_content: The requirements for surgical N95 respirators that make them resistant to high
velocity streams of body fluids and help protect the sterile field can result
in a design that has a higher breathing resistance (makes it more difficult to
breath) than a typical N95 respirator. Also, surgical N95 respirators are
designed without exhalation valves which are sometimes perceived as warmer
inside the mask than typical N95 respirators. If you are receiving complaints,
you may consider having employees who are not doing surgery, not working in a
sterile field, or not potentially exposed to high velocity streams of body
fluids wear a standard N95 with an exhalation valve.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Answer refers only to a "standard N95 with an exhalation valve" as a substitute for the Surgical N95 but gives no other alternatives at all whatsoever.
Recommends a standard N95 mask as an alternative.

Reviewer ratings:
Acceptable
Excellent

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
section_headers: Respirators
What makes N95 respirators different from facemasks (sometimes called a surgical mask)?
section_content: 
Infographic: Understanding the difference between surgical masks and N95 respiratorspdf icon
N95 respirators reduce the wearer’s exposure to airborne particles, from small particle aerosols to large droplets. N95 respirators are tight-fitting respirators that filter out at least 95% of particles in the air, including large and small particles.
Not everyone is able to wear a respirator due to medical conditions that may be made worse when breathing through a respirator. Before using a respirator or getting fit-tested, workers must have a medical evaluation to make sure that they are able to wear a respirator safely.
Achieving an adequate seal to the face is essential. United States regulations require that workers undergo an annual fit test and conduct a user seal check each time the respirator is used. Workers must pass a fit test to confirm a proper seal before using a respirator in the workplace.
When properly fitted and worn, minimal leakage occurs around edges of the respirator when the user inhales. This means almost all of the air is directed through the filter media.
Unlike NIOSH-approved N95s, facemasks are loose-fitting and provide only barrier protection against droplets, including large respiratory particles. No fit testing or seal check is necessary with facemasks. Most facemasks do not effectively filter small particles from the air and do not prevent leakage around the edge of the mask when the user inhales.
The role of facemasks is for patient source control, to prevent contamination of the surrounding area when a person coughs or sneezes. Patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 should wear a facemask until they are isolated in a hospital or at home. The patient does not need to wear a facemask while isolated.


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Talks about surgical masks but pints out that they're not a really adequate substitute for N9 masks.
While answer defines a lot of different types of masks and how to use them correctly it still does not answer the question itself as to whether there is something else besides a Surgical N95 that can be used. The link may be somewhat helpful but it won't give the individual much in the way of the answer they're looking for.

Reviewer ratings:
Acceptable
Could be Improved

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Personal Protective Equipment: Questions and Answers
section_headers: Respirators
What is a Surgical N95 respirator and who needs to wear it?
section_content: 
A surgical N95 (also referred as a medical respirator) is recommended only for use by healthcare personnel (HCP) who need protection from both airborne and fluid hazards (e.g., splashes, sprays). These respirators are not used or needed outside of healthcare settings. In times of shortage, only HCP who are working in a sterile field or who may be exposed to high velocity splashes, sprays, or splatters of blood or body fluids should wear these respirators, such as in operative or procedural settings. Most HCP caring for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients should not need to use surgical N95 respirators and can use standard N95 respirators.
If a surgical N95 is not available for use in operative or procedural settings, then an unvalved N95 respirator may be used with a faceshield to help block high velocity streams of blood and body fluids.


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Answer is given about "unvalved N95" respirator plus a face shield, but does not specify any other materials that might be used or any other kinds of masks that might come close to the same protection.
Gives an explicit recommendation for a replacement for an N95 mask.

Reviewer ratings:
Acceptable
Excellent