Journal of the Korean Society of Safety (한국안전학회지)

The Korean Society of Safety (한국안전학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Comparison of Effects of Mask Style and Donning Training on Fit Factors of Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators

안면부 여과식 방진 마스크의 형태 및 착용 방법 교육이 밀착계수에 미치는 영향 비교

  • Eoh, Won Souk (Korean Occupational Hygiene Association) ;
  • Choi, Youngbo (Department of Safety Engineering, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Shin, Changsub (Department of Safety Engineering, Chungbuk National University)
  • Received : 2016.04.28
  • Accepted : 2016.08.31
  • Published : 2016.10.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Particulate filtering facepiece respirators (PFFR) is one of the most widely used items of personal protective equipments, and a tight fit of the respirators on the wearers is critical for the protection effectiveness. In order to effectively protect the workers through the respirators, it is important to find and evaluate the ways that can be readily applicable at the workplace to improve the fit of the respirators. This study was designed to evaluate effects of mask style (cup or foldable type) and donning training on fit factors (FF) of the respirators, since these are available at various workplace, especially at small business workplace. A total of 40 study subjects, comprised of 30~50s aged male and female workers in metalworking industries, were enrolled in this study. The FF were quantitatively measured before and after training related to the proper donning and use of cup or foldable-type respirators. The pass/fail criterion of FF was set at 100. After the donning training for the cup-type mask, subjects who passed the fit test were increased from 10 to 33. Moreover, the geometric mean (GM) of FF was increased by 340% in subjects who failed the test. In addition, the training effects for the cup-type mask were significant in female and 50s aged subjects. On the other hand, although the GM of FF for the foldable-type mask was also increased after the donning training, the GM of FF for the foldable-type mask and it's increase rate were smaller as compared to the cup-type mask. Furthermore, the differences of the increase rates of the GM of FF in sex and aged of the subjects were not significantly for the foldable-type mask. The multi-distribution of leak points for the foldable-type mask may be one of causes for the less effect of training on the fit of the foldable-type mask. These results imply that the raining on the donning and use of PFFR can enhance the protection effectiveness of cup or foldable-type mask, and that the training effects for the foldable-type mask is less significant than that for the cup-type mask. Therefore, It is recommended that the donning training and fit tests should be conducted before the use of the PFFR, and that efficient tranining programs for the foldable-type mask are required.

Keywords

References

  1. MOEL, KOSHA, The 2014 Work Environment Survey, 2015.
  2. K. Y. Kim, Y. G. Phee, K. J. Lee, J. J. Kim, Y. H. Ki, S. Y. Kim and J. H. Whang, "A Study of Survey for PPE Selection and Wearing and Setup Standard of PPE in Korea", Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, pp. 1-390, 2008.
  3. NIOSH, Guide to Industrial Respiratory Protection (DHHS/NIOSH Pub. No. 87-116), Washington, D.C., Government Printing Office, pp. 3-123, 1987.
  4. I. K. Byun and Y. S. Lee, "A Experimental Study on the Performance of Filter -Integrated Half-Masks", Journal of the Korean Society of Safety, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 3-7, 1990.
  5. D. H. Han, "Correlation for Fit Factors for Respirators and Anthropometric Dimension", Korean Journal of Preventive Medicine, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 440-447, 1998.
  6. D. H. Han and K. L. Choi, "Development of Half-Masks Well-Fitting for Korean Faces (1) - Facial Dimensions and Predictors of Fit for Half-Mask", Korean Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 46-54, 2002.
  7. D. H. Han, "Correlations between Workplace Protection Factors and Fit Factors for Filtering Facepieces in the Welding Workplace", Industrial Health, Vol. 40, pp. 328-334, 2002. https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.40.328
  8. D. Ekerman and C. Lundeen, "Interactive traning versus reading to teach respiratory protection", J. Occup. Health Psychology ,Vol. 7, No 4, pp. 313-323, 2002. https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.7.4.313
  9. E. J. Park and H. W. Kim, "Quantitative Respirator Fit Testing of Half Mask Respirators", Korean Journal of Occupational Health, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp.133-143, 1995.
  10. H. W. Kim, J. E. Baek, H.K. Seo, J. E. Lee, J. P. Myong, S. J. Lee and J. H. Lee, "Comparison of Fit for Healthcare Workers Before and After Training with the N95 Mask", Korean Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 528-535, 2014.
  11. R. K. Oestenstad and A. A. Bartolucci, "Factor Affecting the Location and Shape of Face Seal Leak Sites on Half-Mask Respirators", Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J., Vol 7, No.6, pp. 332-341, 2010.