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Face masks have become increasingly popular over the last few years, but have always been essential personal protective equipment. Surgical masks and respirator masks are two of the most popular types, but they offer different protective properties and are, therefore, suitable for specific applications. When deciding between surgical masks and respirator masks, it is crucial to take into account the employee’s work environment as well as the hazards that the person may experience on the job. 

Currently, the wearing of masks, combined with social distancing and handwashing, has become a crucial part of our daily lives. While masks prevent airborne transmission, it’s still important to wash your hands frequently, with hand sanitiser when there’s no access to clean soap and water. 

Related: The importance of disposing of face masks properly 

Surgical masks 

Surgical masks, like the disposable type IIR surgical face masks and disposable 3 ply face masks are single-use, loose-fitting masks, intended to prevent contamination of the working environment, rather than to protect the wearer. They were designed to protect against droplets, but offer minimal protection against airborne particles as they do not effectively filter small particles from the air. Additionally, leakage can occur around the edge of the mask when the user inhales. 

Respirator masks offer a much higher level of protection against viruses and aerosols than surgical masks when combined with other preventative safety measures. 

Respirator masks 

Respirator masks were designed specifically to carry out potentially infectious aerosol-generating procedures. Their filtration systems remove airborne particles from the air, and unlike surgical masks, they provide a very close facial fit. Their strong seals result in minimal leakage around the edges of the respirator when the wearer inhales. 

The British Standard BS EN 149:2001 classifies filtering facepiece (FFP) respirators as either FFP1, FFP2, and FFP3, based on the filtering efficiency and level of protection given. 

FFP1  

FFP1 respirator masks, like the 3M 8710 FFP1 respirator mask, have a low degree of filtering effectiveness and protect against non-hazardous dusts and water or oil-based mists. These offer protection against certain particles in concentrations up to 4 x workplace exposure limit (WEL). 

FFP2 

FFP2 respirator masks, such as the 3M 8810 FFP2 respirator masks, have filtering efficiencies of over 94%, as well as an assigned protection factor of 10 x WEL for non-toxic, fine mists, fibres and dusts. 

FFP3 

FFP3 respirator masks, including the Moldex 2555 FFP3 respirator mask have a filter efficiency of over 99%, allowing them to protect their wearers against very fine particles and airborne contaminants. 

Other personal protective equipment should be worn as well as face masks, to minimise the risk of workplace hazards. Face protection, such as safety goggles and face shields should be used as well as disposable clothing like disposable gowns, disposable aprons and disposable gloves. 

For further information about our range of protective face masks, feel free to contact our team today. We can be easily reached on 01794 830352 and info@dawnthrive.com. 

While over 43 million people have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and over 31 million of those have received the second dose, there are still over 20 million people in the UK who are unvaccinated. While the vaccines are significantly contributing to the reduction in Covid deaths in the UK, they may not prevent you from spreading the virus to others, as no vaccines are 100% effective. 

As a result of this, we must continue to use protective equipment in our daily life, and the distribution of adequate PPE to frontline healthcare workers must continue, as well as instructing them on how to use the equipment correctly to reduce exposure to the virus. 

According to the World Health Organisation, to keep yourself and others safe from Covid-19, you should maintain a distance, wash your hands and wear a mask as often as you can. 

At Dawnthrive Ltd, we supply a vast range of Covid-19 personal protective equipment, including face protection, hand protection, respiratory protective, equipment body protection and more. We have disposable face masks, including disposable 3 ply face masks and disposable type IIR surgical face masks, along with other types of face protection, like safety goggles and face shields. 

Related: The importance of disposing of face masks properly. 

Disposable arm covers sleeves, disposable overshoes, full body protective coveralls, disposable plastic aprons and disposable plastic gowns are all available on our site, to help shield wearers from splashes, spills, contamination and other dangers. 

Disposable gloves help prevent the spread of infection, while chemical protection gloves, heat resistant gloves, Nitrile dipped gloves, winter work gloves and cut resistant gloves can protect the wearer from hazards commonly found in the workplace. 

Our most popular disposable gloves include Tegera 84101 nitrile gloves and Unicare natural latex gloves. 

Related: What Standards should I be looking for when buying disposable gloves?   

As well as our collection of PPE, we offer a range of personal hygiene products including Purell surface sanitising wipes, hand sanitiser and alcohol surface spray, to help keep your work environment is germ-free and safe. 

You can find our full range of personal protective equipment on our website. If you have any questions about our products, call us at 01794 830352 or email us at info@dawnthrive.com. 

Key personnel spend the week meeting new and existing customers in the Punjab region of Pakistan, including Attock Petroleum Limited (APL), Bhikki Power Plant, Bulleh Shah Packaging, Century Paper & Board Mills, Hub Power Company Limited (HUBCO), Fauji Fertilizer Company (FLC), Kot Addu Power Company Limited (KAPCO), Lalpir Thermal Power Limited, Pakgen Power Limited and Sitara Chemical Industries Limited.

When buying disposable gloves, there are many factors to consider, including: what kind of chemicals you need to handle, risks of cuts or punctures, level of dexterity and grip required, type of contact, sizes and latex allergies. 

Latex, nitrile, and vinyl are just a few of the glove materials available, and they each vary in thickness and dexterity. Powdered gloves are easy to put on and are sweat absorbing, but as they can cause allergic reactions, they are advised against being used in clinical settings. 

When searching for disposable gloves, it’s good to understand glove standards, which outline certain requirements for different types of gloves. These standards are especially important to note when acquiring disposable gloves for medical purposes, as they need to successfully shield the wearer’s hands from medical and healthcare-related risks. 

The glove requirements set by the Health and Safety Executive is a set of rules that protective gloves must meet. The glove must: be appropriate for the risks and conditions where it’s used; take into account the ergonomic requirements and state of health of the person wearing it; fit the wearer correctly (after adjustments, if necessary) and either prevent or control the risk involved without increasing the overall risk. 

The EN 420, EN 374, and EN 455 are the main standards to check for when purchasing disposable gloves. We’ve created a guide to help you better understand the most common requirements. 

EN 374 

The EN 374 standard is designed for single-use medical gloves and informs the wearer about the types of chemicals the gloves can handle and for how long they can be exposed to said chemicals.  

Gloves that are compliant with the EN 374 include Tegera 85801 nitrile gloves (also compliant with EN 420) and Unicare 1.5 AQL Natural Latex Gloves  (also compliant with EN 455). 

Gloves are subjected to extensive chemical testing under EN 374, to assess their resistance to 18 distinct chemicals, as well as assessing breakthrough time, permeability, degradation, and other factors. This standard is broken down into the following sections: 

• EN 374 – 1: Protective Gloves Against Chemicals and Micro-Organisms 
• EN 374 – 2: Determination to Resistance to Penetration 
• EN 374 – 3: Determination of Resistance to Permeation by Chemicals (replaced by EN 16523) 
• EN 374 – 4: Determination of Resistance to Degradation by Chemicals 
• EN 374 – 5: Terminology and Performance Requirements for Micro-Organism Risks 

Gloves that are tested to the EN 374 standard will also display Type A, B or C. These tell the wearer how long the gloves will remain chemically resistant. 

• Type A – Resistance of at least 30 minutes with a minimum of six test chemicals. 
• Type B – Resistance of at least 30 minutes with a minimum of three test chemicals. 
• Type C – Resistance of at least 10 minutes with a minimum of one test chemical. 

EN 420 

Innocuousness, anti-static and water vapour, packaging and instructions, and symbols/information on the glove are all covered under the EN 420 standard, however, it will be replaced by the EN ISO 21420. This new standard will ensure that the materials used by protective glove manufacturers do not adversely affect the health or safety of the wearer (innocuousness). 

Tegera 84101 nitrile gloves, Tegera 843 nitrile gloves and Tegera 825A vinyl gloves comply with both EN 420 and EN 374 standards. 

The new ISO 21420 reduces the amount of DMDa (dimethylformamide) in polyurethane-coated (PU) gloves while also bringing it closer to REACh’s hazardous chemicals or compounds of very high concern laws (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). 

This new standard also includes changes to glove marking. Manufacturer’s name and postal address, size designation, glove identification, date of production (month and year), appropriate pictograms and associated degrees of protection, and CE marking are now required on each protective glove. This information will be applied to the package if glove marking is not possible. 

EN 455 

EN 455 standard is divided into four sections that cover freedom from holes, physical properties, biological evaluation and shelf life. This standard covers the essential requirements detailed in the Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC.  

EN 455-1 – Requirements and testing for freedom from holes 

Gloves are filled with water and then inspected for pinholes and leaks. This experiment will determine if the gloves are an efficient barrier against microbes. A quality level of 1.5 is required for examination, surgical, and procedural gloves. 

EN 455-2 – Requirements and testing for physical properties 

Gloves must fulfil specific physical requirements and glove measurements, which vary depending on the glove material (nitrile, latex, vinyl or synthetic). Latex and nitrile gloves must endure a force of 6 Newtons without breaking, whereas synthetic and vinyl gloves must endure 3.6 Newtons without breaking. 

Clear vinyl powder free gloves have been tested and are compliant with the EN 374, EN 420 and EN 455 standards. 

EN 455-3 – Requirements and testing for biological evaluation 

This section examines gloves for endotoxins, chemical residues, powder, and latex proteins, as well as other potentially harmful elements that might harm the wearer or the patient. These items may induce an allergic reaction right away or may cause symptoms to appear gradually. 

EN 455-4 – Requirements and testing for shelf-life determination 

This section tests gloves to determine how long they are fit for use. This ensures that gloves are of the same quality at the start and end of their shelf life. 

At Dawnthrive Ltd, we have a comprehensive range of safety work gloves for sale besides disposable gloves, including anti-static gloves, chemical protection gloves, heat resistant gloves, nitrile dripped gloves and much more. 

We hope that this disposable glove standard guide has been helpful. For further assistance, feel free to contact our team at info@dawnthrive.com or on 01794 830352. 

When worn properly, face masks greatly reduce the chance of catching and spreading infections. They should be used alongside other preventative measures, such as regular hand-washing, vaccinations and keeping at least six feet away from others. 

At Dawnthrive Ltd, we supply an extensive collection of face masks, including respirator masks, like FFP1 respirator face masks, Moldex respirator masks and FFP3 respirator face masks, surgical masks, including disposable type IIR surgical face masks and other disposable masks such as disposable 3 ply face masks and disposable FFP2 respirator masks. 

While it is important for face masks to be worn correctly, they must also be properly disposed of. Reusable masks should be washed daily and used where possible to minimise waste. Single-use masks should be removed and disposed of appropriately after each use. 

Contaminated single-use masks can be harmful to the environment and are a possible biological hazard.  When not properly discarded, they can threaten public health and safety. 

How to correctly remove a face mask 

1. Clean your hands before touching the mask 

2. Grabbing both of the ear loops, gently pull back, lift and remove the mask. Avoid touching the front of the mask 

3. Dispose of the mask in a closed bin 

4. Wash your hands again with soap and water or hand sanitiser 

As soon as a disposable face mask feels damp, the World Health Organization suggests replacing it with a fresh one. Masks intended for one-time usage should not be reused. 

How to correctly dispose of a face mask 

When at home or work, dispose of your mask in a closed rubbish bin. When outside, used face coverings should be discarded in a rubbish bin and should not be put in any recycling bins or thrown as litter. 

If you or someone in your household is self-isolating, the UK’s Government website recommends that used face masks that may be contaminated should be double-bagged and stored in a safe and secure isolated place for 72 hours before being disposed of in the general rubbish bin. 

It is important to follow the latest Government guidelines on how to properly dispose of COVID-19 waste. 

Browse our full collection of Covid-19 PPE to view more options. Feel free to contact our staff if you have any questions regarding our range of face protection and other protective equipment. You can reach us via email at info@dawnthrive.com or via phone at 01794 830352.