Automotive painters have to wear N95 masks to protect themselves from inhaling toxic fumes, whether they’re working in the shop or outdoors in the elements. But it’s not just their lungs that are protected by these masks; it’s also their skin and eyesight. Car paint fumes can be very irritating to all of these body parts, so when car paint workers wear N95 masks they can spend more time working on cars and less time in the clinic getting treatment for minor injuries or diseases caused by exposure to paint fumes.
Choosing the Right Mask
If you work with car paint, you need to protect yourself from lead. The best way to do that is by wearing a half-face respirator—specifically, an N95 mask. This type of mask filters out 95 percent of airborne particles, including lead and other heavy metals. Car paint has one of the highest amounts of these particles in any industry, so it’s important to choose a mask that can keep you safe while at work.
Putting on Your Mask Correctly
It’s important to be wearing your mask correctly. That way, you’ll be getting full protection from it. First off, put the straps of the mask over your head and tighten them so that they’re snug against your neck. Then, pull the bottom of the mask up to cover your nose and mouth and make sure that the rest of the mask is covering any part of your face that’s not covered by a beard or mustache. Next, close one eye so that both eyes are open and in line with each other while looking through one hole in the middle of the filter.
When it is Time to Replace Your Mask
The main reason to replace your mask is that it’s become damaged. If you drop your mask on a hard surface, or if you find holes in it, then you need to get a new one. Even if you can still see through it and breathe easily, other people won’t be able to, so buy a new one for their sake as well as yours. If your employer gives them out for free, go ahead and grab another when you have the chance. Make sure it is approved by NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) which will help ensure it meets all safety standards.
How about surgical masks? Do they work more like a strainer or N95 masks?
But watching this, now I’m wondering how effective are surgical/cloth masks?
Hello E., a three-layer knitted cotton mask blocked an average of 26.5 percent of particles in the chamber, while a washed, two-layer woven nylon mask with a filter insert and metal nose bridge blocked 79 percent of particles on average. Loosely woven cloth products provide the least protection, layered finely woven products offer more protection, well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s offer even more protection, and well-fitting NIOSH-approved respirators (including N95s) offer the highest level of protection.