Spreadsheet: 3a27b912-1040-47f0-991b-9bbaf4530f95
Sheet: Sheet1

Respirator and Facemask Calculator for Pandemic Influenza Assumptions
1.  Calculator assists LPHA  in stockpiling facemasks and respirators for a pandemic influenza for LPHA staff, volunteers and other critical response partners involved in support of the LPHA response during a pandemic influenza.
2.  Procuring respirator and face masks for volunteers and other critical public health partners is highly recommended.  Ultimately, it a LPHA's decision whether to procure respirators or surgical masks for volunteers (med and meal delivery) and critical public health partners (security and quarantine officers) needed to support the LPHA response.  If a LPHA chooses not to procure for volunteers and PH partners, simply add zero (0) in the calculator for these functions.
3.  PPE is just one of several protective measures that LPHA should use to protect their staff in pandemic influenza.  Other measures include social distancing, proper hygiene, engineering controls, and work practices.
4.  Calculator is based on 120 working days in a pandemic influenza.   A mitigated pandemic is currently expected to occur in two waves; community outbreaks in each wave would each last up to 12 weeks (24 weeks total). There are assumed to be five work days per week and thus 120 work days per employee over the two pandemic waves (OSHA, 2008).
4a. Respirators and facemasks will only be used by employees during pandemic waves in their local community/state and not between pandemic waves, and only during work tasks where they might be exposed to people who are or might be ill with pandemic influenza (OSHA, 2008)
4b. If pandemic vaccine is available and used, an employee's vaccination status will not modify recommendations for the use of respirators and facemasks because vaccines may not be completely effective and will not be available in large supply at the start of a pandemic (OSHA, 2008).
4c.  Calculator assumes single use of respirator and face mask (OSHA, 2008).
5.  Determing facemask and respirator for employees will be based on one of four levels of risk exposure:
A.  Very high risk: use respirators.                                                                                                                                                                                                    The calculator assumes 4 N95 respirator per employee per aerosol-generating procedure.
B.  High risk:  use respirators.                                                                                                                                                                                                            The calculator assumes 4 N95 respirators per employee per an 8 hour work shift.
C.  Medium risk:  use facemasks.                                                                                                                                                                                                     The calculator assumes 2 facemasks per employee per an 8 hour work shift.
D.  Lower Risk: no facemasks or respirators are recommended.
6.  In a LPHA setting, an employee's risk exposure may change from day-to-day.  LPHA staff may at times be at low risk  whereas at other times they may have medium or high risk exposure.  For the purposes of this calculator and to ensure appropriate protection at any time, LPHA's should use a staff's highest known risk exposure in planning efforts.
7.  LPHA may consider upgrading protective measures for staff beyond what would be suggested by their exposure risk due to the necessity of such service as well as the potential difficulties in replacing them during a pandemic (for example, due to extensive training or licensing requirements).  This may mean moving a staff from the medium risk exposure level (facemask) to a the high or very high risk exposure level (respirator).
8.  LPHA should consider cost, advantages, disadvantages, shelf life and storage of respirators and facemask before procuring any respiratory protection equipment.
9.  The cost and storage space needed and provided in this calculator are estimates and are based on the N95 9211 respirator.  Costs and storage space will vary depending the vendor and model of respirators and facemasks.
10.  All respirators must be NIOSH certified.
11.  Hover over the red triangles in the calculator for a brief description of various calculator components or functions.
1.  Occupational Safety and Health Administration (2008).  Proposed Guidance on Workplace Stockipiling of Respirators and Facemasks for Pandemic Influenza.  Retrieved on-line on May 14, 2008 at http://www.osha.gov/dsg/guidance/stockpiling-facemasks-respirators.html
2.  The Respirator and Facemask Calculator for Pandemic Influenza: A Tool for Wisconsin Local Public Health Agencies was adapted from the
Western Region Partnership for Public Health Preparedness.