A few weeks ago a client asked me to review a new N95 Filtering Face Piece (FFP) respirator they had received from a salesperson. This new N95 was very unique and it was touted to be NIOSH approved while being a “strapless” FFP. I was confused, how can a NIOSH N95 FFP be “strapless”. To say the least I had some serious doubts, especially knowing there are millions of counterfeit FFPs out there during this pandemic. But after researching the NIOSH TC# and the manufacturers’ spec sheet I had to admit that they are in fact a NIOSH approved N95 FFP. But these “strapless” N95’s come with one limitation that could be significant in a lot of workplaces…
Every NIOSH-approved respirator must identify any “Special or Critical User Instructions” and this strapless respirator has SEVERAL interesting requirements/restrictions that may cause a few issues in some workplaces with certain types of users and work environments.
No one style, type, or brand of respirator meets all of our needs; however, as neat as it may sound to some, this strapless N95 may not be the right respirator for your workers and/or your working environment…