Many different types of respiratory equipment are available. There is considerable variation in the type and degree of protection provided. The common surgical mask is intended more to protect the patient than the person wearing it. Carefully consider the manufacturer s recommended uses and match the use to your activity. Equally important to the filtering ability is the degree of air leakage around the edges of the mask.
Factors influencing fit include eyeglasses and facial hair.
Therefore, the protection provided by a particular respirator will vary greatly from person to person. Fit testing is a service provided by the Safety Department. Kournikakis et al. 2000. Comparison of protection factors for selected medical, industrial and military masks. Protocol registrations are processed monthly in conjunction with the Institutional Biosafety Committee meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for the first Wednesday of every month.