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RE: dust mask usage
True enough...Eventually, then, it must all come down to liability
RAFAEL G. CHARRIS, TSGT, USAF, OHST, RRPT
Supervisor, Occupational Health Risk Assessments
Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight
Edwards AFB, CA
(805) 277-3272 DSN 527-3272
charrisr@med.edwards.af.mil <mailto:charrisr@med.edwards.af.mil>
-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Rees [mailto:brees@lanl.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 1999 6:27 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: RE: dust mask usage
I was incredulous too, but after a few iterations of questions, I am sure
we were talking about the same PF. Remember, the (OSHA) assigned PFs are
nowhere near the attainable and frequently demonstrated PFs during fit
tests. I remember seeing somewhere (?) that a handkerchief had a PF of 25.
200 doesn't sound that far off.... Not that I'm recommending either.
Brian Rees
At 04:38 PM 4/26/99 -0500, you wrote:
>A protection factor higher than a full-face, negative pressure, air
>purifying respirator? I highly doubt the surgical mask, with its
>questionable seal and fit around a wearer's face would provide that high
PF.
>Perhaps their idea of a protection factor is different than ours...?
>
>
>RAFAEL G. CHARRIS, TSGT, USAF, OHST, RRPT
>Supervisor, Occupational Health Risk Assessments
>Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight
>Edwards AFB, CA
>(805) 277-3272 DSN 527-3272
>charrisr@med.edwards.af.mil <mailto:charrisr@med.edwards.af.mil>
>
>
>For what it's worth... In a conversation I had with some Russian visitors
>about 2 years ago, they claimed a protection factor of 200 for surgeon's
>mask! We were discussing Pu-238 work, so I'm fairly confident they had
>some sort of testing data, with 238 your margin's pretty slim. They wore
>the masks all the time in case a release occurred, and were surprised that
>we didn't. They did understand the importance of keeping the material on
>the other side of the glovebox, but said that the consequences were high
>enough that continuous mask use was indicated.
>
>(Obviously) my own opinion
>
>Brian Rees
>Plutonium Facility and LACEF Health Physics Operations
>Los Alamos National Laboratory
>brees@lanl.gov
>
>
>
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