Mark Sennett
Managing Editor |
Kelly Rose
Editor |
Home> | Breathing Safely | >Respirators | >BOHS statement on RPE for nurses |
BOHS statement on RPE for nurses
30 March 2020
The British Occupational Hygiene Society welcomes the announcement of further advice on Protective equipment by NHS for its workers.
We seek to bring to the attention of those involved in framing new guidance the latest scientific insights which are currently being looked at by a variety of health & occupational hygiene organisations.
These organisations are currently working independently to produce summaries for any forthcoming guidance or future revisions. Work addresses matters such as RPE deployment; for example, the suitability of surgical masks, FFP3 disposable respirators or powered filtering hoods and masks for various tasks. BOHS endorses any move to prioritise the use of powered RPE as the most effective protection for health workers in critical risk areas. We are confident that the guidance will reflect the NHS’s care in ensuring that current stock RPE effectively prevent reinfection by staff through exhalation as well as preventing infection of staff. BOHS endorses all efforts to ensure that staff are guided to the best RPE selection, fit, removal and maintenance.
BOHS is convening a standing expert group to monitor and review the scientific evidence and is working collaboratively with others to provide support to any public sector organisation involved in the protection of its workers who seek clarity on the science and application of RPE in the current COVID-19 crisis.
Kelvin Williams, President-elect of BOHS commented, “Amongst the many challenges for the NHS is keeping abreast of the rapidly changing science to keep its workers safe. BOHS welcomes the review of its guidance and is offering its expertise to ensure the NHS has timely access to the best international scientific information”.
- HSE safety alert on ear loop masks
- Good progress on reducing injuries and fatalities at work not matched by progress on work-related harm to health
- BSI publishes competence criteria
- HSE reacts to threatened inspector sentence
- Employee sustains burn injuries in avoidable explosion
- Hotel owner left 'safety to chance'
- Farm worker entangled in potato harvester
- Builder fined for unsafe asbestos removal
- Enter the Safety & Health Excellence Awards 2021
- Scaffolding Association welcomes Working Minds campaign
- Disposable respirator offers durability
- Respiratory protection urged
- Welding talk
- Combo passes fit test
- Double protection at half the price
- 3M advanced three-panel design optimises comfort
- Flexible fit disposable respirator
- 3M Pioneers advanced disposable respiratory protection technology
- Respiratory & personal protection
- Latest respirators