From Hugh Wolfson
The picture on p 4 of your 3 November issue seems to show a US postal worker
wearing a 3M filtering face piece (FFP) as protection against the threat of
anthrax. The mask is being worn with the bottom strap cut off or dangling.
A picture is worth a thousand words, but here are eight to redress the
balance: “If there’s only one strap, it’s probably crap.”
I work for Britain’s Health and Safety Executive. I am sick of pointing out
to employers and factory workers that the pictures on the pack clearly tell them
how to put on the FFP with both straps to hold the mask closely to the face.
A mask with only one (top) strap hangs forward off the lower face, leaves a
big gap to breathe through, and will be rotten protection against anthrax or
respirable dust of any kind. Unfortunately, some cheap and ineffective masks are
only manufactured with one strap. See the 3M pack and British Standard 4275 for
more information.
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Altrincham, Cheshire
