A QUICK COMPARISON BETWEEN SURGICAL MASKS AND N95 INDUSTRIAL RESPIRATORS

A QUICK COMPARISON BETWEEN SURGICAL MASKS AND N95 INDUSTRIAL RESPIRATORS

Many of you would have been surprised when you first read the title of this article. Right? Well, it is very normal because the majority of people confuse a surgical mask and N95 industrial respirator mask as one. The reason behind this is that, first of all, they all look similar in shape and design, and secondly the terms masks and respirators are used interchangeably that people consider them one. However, both are way too different from each other.

Since the novel Coronavirus has created health havoc across the world, personal protection must be your top priority. Many people are falling prey to the pandemic and giving up on their lives due to a small tiny but deadliest virus. When we talk about personal protection, masks and respirators are the first and the foremost considerations. Wearing a mask can save your respiratory system to be exposed not only to the virus but many other airborne harmful substances. 

This article is written to educate our users about how surgical masks are different from N95 industrial respirator masks. The differences are discussed based on the purpose or intended use so that you get to know when and where to use which one. So, let’s begin.

 Surgical masks

Surgical masks usually include masks labeled as surgical, isolation, laser, dental, or medical procedure masks. They are best suited for surgical procedures in medical and healthcare facilities. The primary use of surgical masks is to protect patients from the saliva and respiratory secretions of doctors and paramedical staff or other people working around them. It also presents the patients' exposure to microbes and large harmful substances in the air.

One drawback of surgical masks is that they aren't designed to cover the mouth and nose tightly. Usually, they are not sized for an individual fit and the wearer may experience inward leakage for particles and organisms. Also, surgical masks are not approved by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

To address the size issue, a product named surgical N95 respirators is now being circulated that works as surgical masks but offers a tight seal around the mouth and nose. It is said to be effective enough to filter 95% of the harmful particles in the air and is NIOSH certified as well.

N95 industrial respirator mask

N95 industrial respirator masks are NIOSH-approved masks designed to reduce the exposure of the wearer to many airborne germs and oil-free aerosols. They are designed so to offer a tight and firm seal around your nose and mouth. This respirator comes with no exhalation valves which means that they don't let contaminants from the wearer spread in the environment. The wearer of these respirators has to follow the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard and other state or local regulations. Also, the product requires fit-testing and can be adjusted to accommodate the individual fit. Most importantly, N95 industrial respirator masks come with specific instructions and warnings for effective use. The only drawback of this product is that it isn’t certified to be fluid resistant.

If you are looking to buy genuine products visit alghealth.com. They have a wide variety of masks and respirators including industrial, surgical, and non-surgical ones. For further information, click on the website link now!