Will Face Masks Save Employees from Swine Flu?

The swine flu predictions are flying in all directions—from "no worries" to "half the population will be infected." If you assume the middle ground is likely, should you be breaking out respirators or other protective gear for employees? CDC's not sure.

It might seem like a no-brainer to get everyone in face masks or respirators if the H1N1 flu is around, yet the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says that information on the effectiveness of face masks and respirators for decreasing infection in community settings is extremely limited.

In the absence of clear scientific data, CDC has developed interim recommendations on the basis of public health judgment, the historical use of face masks and respirators in other settings for preventing transmission of influenza and other respiratory viruses, and on current information on the spread and severity of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus.

In areas with confirmed human cases of H1N1, the risk for infection can be reduced through a combination of actions. No single action will provide complete protection, but an approach combining the following steps can help decrease the likelihood of transmission, CDC says. These recommended actions are:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand cleaner when soap and water are not available.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

If you are sick with an influenza-like illness (ILI) (fever plus at least cough or sore throat and possibly other symptoms such as runny nose, body aches, headaches, chills, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea):

• Stay home.
• Keep away from others as much as possible, including avoiding travel, for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine).

If you must be near a person with ILI, avoid close contact (i.e., being within about 6 feet).

Face Masks and Respirators

What's the difference between a face mask and a respirator? Face masks do not seal tightly to the face and are used to block large droplets from coming into contact with the wearer's mouth or nose. Most respirators (e.g., N95) are designed to seal tightly to the wearer's face and filter out very small particles that can be breathed in by the user.

The use of a face mask or respirator is likely to be of most benefit if used as early as possible when exposed to an ill person and when the face mask or respirator is used consistently.

community and home settings, the use of face masks and respirators generally is not recommended. Nor is the use of N95 respirators or face masks generally recommended for workers in nonhealthcare occupational settings for general work activities.

For specific work activities that involve contact with people who have ILI, such as escorting a person with ILI, interviewing a person with ILI, providing assistance to an individual with ILI, the following are recommended:

• Workers should try to maintain a distance of 6 feet or more from the person with ILI.
• Workers should keep their interactions with ill persons as brief as possible.
• The ill person should be asked to follow good cough etiquette and hand hygiene and to wear a face mask, if able (and one is available).
• Workers at increased risk of severe illness from influenza infection should avoid people with ILI (possibly by temporary reassignment).
• Where workers cannot avoid close contact with persons with ILI, some workers may choose to wear a face mask or N95 respirator on a voluntary basis.

In the occupational healthcare setting, respiratory protection is recommended. Because infection control precautions, including respiratory protection, are imperfect, workers who are at increased risk of severe illness from influenza, and who are caring for a patient with known, probable, or suspected H1N1 or ILI, may consider temporary reassignment to avoid exposure.

Thanks to BRL HR Daily Advisor