What Sets Halyard’s N95 Apart from the Regular Offerings
In the critical landscape of healthcare safety, selecting the right facial protection is a decision that directly impacts the well-being of both medical professionals and their patients. While various options exist, understanding the specific advantages of Halyard’s offerings… Including their meticulously engineered N95 respirators and thoughtfully designed surgical masks, is key to ensuring optimal defense against potential hazards. By prioritizing both robust respiratory protection and reliable fluid resistance, Halyard provides healthcare facilities with the tools necessary to create a safer working environment and protect patient health.
How Has Halyard Outdone the Rest?
Halyard’s N95 Respirators have already proved themselves to be better than your standard surgical mask. But now we’d like to break down the finer details… And show you how they’ve managed to do that, down to the specifics. So we’ll look at various points that cover the most important parts about Halyard’s N95 Respirators.
How do I know the mask I am using is truly safe for the task at hand?
This section will cover the approvals and regulations for each mask. It’ll cover the various standards and agencies that verify and discuss each mask’s level of protection.
Surgical Mask:
Surgical masks are essential for protecting healthcare workers and patients during medical procedures. These masks are rigorously cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure safety and effectiveness. They are regulated under 21 CFR 878.4040*, which sets standards for surgical apparel performance, particularly in blocking microorganisms and fluids. Choosing an FDA-cleared surgical mask ensures a product designed for reliable protection.
Halyard N95 Respirator:
The Halyard N95 Respirator offers robust respiratory protection, regulated by the FDA, CDC, NIOSH, and OSHA. It undergoes strict evaluation, testing, and approval by NIOSH according to 42 CFR Part 84**. This ensures the respirator meets verified filtration efficiency standards against airborne particles, providing dependable protection in occupational settings.
* (21 CFR 878.4040 is an FDA rule classifying surgical apparel (caps, gowns, masks, etc.) as Class II medical devices. It requires premarket review for surgical masks and gowns to ensure safety and effectiveness in preventing the spread of microorganisms and fluids during surgery. N95 respirators were previously included but are now often exempt. The rule also covers performance and labeling, especially for liquid barrier properties.)
** (42 CFR Part 84, issued by NIOSH, establishes the rules for approving respiratory protective devices used in workplaces. It defines different classes of particulate filters (N, R, and P) with varying oil resistance and filtration efficiency (95%, 99%, 99.97%). This regulation outlines the testing that respirators must pass to receive NIOSH certification, ensuring they provide a minimum level of protection against airborne contaminants for workers.)
What are these things for, anyway?
This section will cover each mask’s intended purpose. Namely, some of the specific details that make up the masks protective capabilities.
Surgical Mask:
This type of mask is fluid-resistant. It lessens the wearer’s contact with large droplets, splashes, or sprays of bodily fluids or other hazardous liquids. Additionally, it protects the patient from the respiratory emissions of the wearer during medical procedures.
Halyard N95 Respirator:
This respirator reduces the wearer’s exposure to various particles. This includes small particle aerosols and large droplets (for non-oil aerosols only). It is designed to protect both the patient and healthcare professional. This protection is against the transfer of microorganisms, bodily fluids, and particulate material. It meets an N95 filtration level as defined by 42 CFR 84.181*.
*(42 CFR 84.181, within NIOSH’s regulations for respirator approval (42 CFR Part 84 Subpart K), specifically details the communication performance test for PAPR100 class Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs). While not directly defining N95 filtration, it’s part of the broader framework that Subpart K uses to set standards for non-powered particulate respirators like N95s. Other sections in Subpart K outline the filter efficiency tests that N95 respirators must pass to achieve NIOSH approval, requiring at least 95% filtration of non-oil based particles.)
How do I know that a surgical mask needs to be tossed out?
This section details each limitation on the use of the mask mentioned.
Surgical Mask:
This surgical mask is disposable. It is not intended for reuse and should be discarded if damaged, soiled, or if breathing through it becomes difficult.
Halyard N95 Respirator:
Ideally, this Halyard N95 Respirator should be discarded after each patient or customer encounter. It should also be discarded if it becomes damaged or deformed, no longer forms an effective seal to the face, becomes wet or visibly dirty, if breathing becomes difficult, or if it becomes contaminated with any fluids from patients or customers.
Filtration
This section explains the filtration capabilities of each mask.
Surgical Mask:
This surgical mask is not considered respiratory protection. It does NOT reliably protect the wearer from inhaling smaller airborne particles.
Halyard N95 Respirator:
This Halyard N95 Respirator IS considered respiratory protection. It filters out at least 95% of airborne particles, including both large and small ones.
Air Leakage
This section covers the air leakage potential of each mask.
Surgical Mask:
Leakage occurs around the edge of this surgical mask when the user inhales.
Halyard N95 Respirator:
When properly fitted and donned, minimal leakage occurs around the edges of this Halyard N95 Respirator when the user inhales.
Fit Testing Requirement
This section explains if each mask has a required fit test to ensure proper protection standards are met.
Surgical Mask:
Fit testing is not required.
Halyard N95 Respirator:
Fit testing for this mask is required, per the OSHA standard 1910.134 App A*.
*(OSHA standard 1910.134 App A is a mandatory appendix outlining the required fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators used in workplaces. It details both qualitative (QLFT) and quantitative (QNFT) methods that employers must follow to ensure an adequate seal for each employee. This appendix emphasizes proper respirator selection, acceptable fit, and specific test exercises to verify the respirator provides the expected protection against workplace hazards.)
User Seal Check Requirement
This section will ask if each mask requires a user seal check to meet standards.
Surgical Mask:
A user seal check requirement is not required.
Halyard N95 Respirator:
Yes, a user seal check is required each time the respirator is put on, known as donning.
Final Thoughts
When the safety of your healthcare team and patients is on the line, selecting reliable and rigorously tested personal protective equipment is non-
negotiable. While surgical masks serve a purpose in fluid resistance, for comprehensive respiratory protection against airborne particles, the Halyard N95 respirator stands out.
At Sterilizer Autoclave Solutions, we understand the importance of quality, and Halyard products represent a commitment to high standards in infection prevention. And with the Halyard N95 respirator, you can ensure your facility is equipped with the protection you can trust for a safer tomorrow. So if you’d like to purchase Halyard’s N95 Respirators for yourself, you can find them on our site here.
If you have any questions about Halyard’s N95 respirators, infection control, or anything else, give us a call at 704-966-1650. We also have an assortment of resource programs available on our site using the links below.
As always if you have any questions about this process or anything else please feel free to contact us and take advantage of our “FREE TECH SUPPORT.”
We also offer FREE VIRTUAL TECH SUPPORT to “See and Talk” with a “Real Time Live Technician” for any problems you may be in need of help with.
You can also use our “FREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM”. Take the guesswork and worrying about what unit is due for maintenance and which maintenance cycle it is time for. We will keep track of all your autoclaves and let you know when it’s time for anything.
Halyard’s N05 Respirator is available for purchase on our site here.