Coronavirus Basics — Respirator Fit Testing in the Age of COVID-19

Episode 9

OH&S SafetyPod: Coronavirus Basics — Respirator Fit Testing in the Age of COVID-19

OH&S Content Editor Amanda Smiley gives an update on the COVID-19 pandemic and sits down with Greg Olson, a Sr. Product Specialist for Industrial Hygiene and Respiratory Protection at TSI, to discuss proper fit testing amid the Coronavirus crisis.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Mar 25, 2020

Our team at OH&S sincerely hopes that you and your family are safe and healthy in these unprecedented times, and if you are anything like me timely and factual information in a time like this is the only thing that keeps you sane. As many of you know, OH&S SafetyPod usually does a deep dive into some of the most important topics in the safety industry. However given the severity of the coronavirus, we have decided to continue to bring you the top headlines, breaking news and important information on COVID-19.

In this episode we will be updating listeners on the newest updates concerning the virus as well as talking with Greg Olson, Sr. Product Specialist for Industrial Hygiene and Respiratory Protection at TSI on proper fit protection for respirators. In our interview with Greg, we go in-depth on why we need fit testing for respirators, ensuring proper fit, the shortage of N95 masks amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

Please keep in mind that this interview was recorded prior to Wednesday, March 25 with the most up-to-date information. Depending on when you are listening to this, some statistics may have changed.If you’d like to check out our most recent news coverage on the virus, go to www.ohsonline.com/coronavirus.

Listen to this episode of OH&S SafetyPod on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and more.

A special thank you to TSI:

At TSI, our global team strives to provide not only instruments, but also innovative solutions. We operate at both a global scale and a human scale—instruments that measure everything from atmospheric aerosols to the fit of a personal respirator. Turning data into actionable information enables our customers to do their jobs more efficiently. TSI understands the science, the data, and the processes that support your work. Learn more about us a tsi.com/fastfit.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the former editor of Occupational Health & Safety.

Product Showcase

  • Full Line of Defense Against Combustible Dust Nilfisk

    Nilfisk provides a comprehensive range of industrial vacuums meticulously crafted to adhere to NFPA 652 housekeeping standards, essential for gathering combustible dust in Class I, Group D, and Class II, Groups E, F & G environments or non-classified settings. Our pneumatic vacuums are meticulously engineered to fulfill safety criteria for deployment in hazardous surroundings. Leveraging advanced filtration technology, Nilfisk ensures the secure capture of combustible materials scattered throughout your facility, ranging from fuels, solvents, and metal dust to flour, sugar, and pharmaceutical powders. 3

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  • Preventative Heat Safety

    Dehydration and heat exposure impair physical and cognitive performance. Proper hydration boosts heat stress resilience, but hydration needs are highly individualized and hard to predict across a workforce. Connected Hydration® empowers industrial athletes to stay safe through behavioral interventions, informed by sports science, and equips safety teams with critical insights to anticipate high-risk situations and adapt to evolving environmental factors. Curious about applying the latest in sports science based hydration strategies for industrial athletes? Stop by booth #1112 at AIHA or schedule a free demo today at https://epcr.cc/demo. 3

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