Because comfort counts
September 24th 2009 3M, the diversified technology company, has introduced a new addition to its range of disposable respirators.
The company, a leading personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturer, says the new series has been designed for comfort – critical if people are to be encouraged to protect themselves.
Caroline Smith, Product Manager for 3M’s Respiratory Protection & Welding range said: “Respiratory disease is the second biggest killer in the UK and deaths from occupational lung disease are rising rapidly1. When working in a hazardous environment, having respiratory protection is critical - but PPE is of no use if it is not worn. If something is not comfortable then chances are it will be taken off, so we set about developing a respirator that people would not want to remove.”
Every respirator has an assigned protection factor (APF). APF figures are designed to give a reasonable safety margin in the use of correctly selected respirators. If properly fitted and used, the actual protection received may well be higher than the APF. However, protection levels can drop dramatically when a respirator is not used, even for a short period of time.
3M technicians calculated that if an FFP2 respirator, for example, is removed for 10 per cent of the time - the equivalent of just 48 minutes in an 8-hour shift - the actual protection factor is almost halved.
The new 3M 8300 series has been developed specifically to address the issue of comfort. The new design includes an m-shaped nose clip to make it easier to fit and be more comfortable around the nose; a super-soft cushioned inner lining and a soft waffle edge - all designed to encourage wearers to use the respirator continually whilst in a dusty environment.
Other features include:
• Braided headbands that are colour-coded for easy protection level identification
• A robust outer shell developed for durability
• The innovative 3M Cool Flow Valve incorporated into certain models to reduce heat and
• Moisture build-up, making the respirators more comfortable for workers to wear even in hot and humid conditions
• 3M Advanced Electret filter materials developed to help users breathe easily through the respirator, providing greater comfort.
Better protection through simple selection
The new range of 8300 cup-shaped respirators takes its place in the 3M Comfort Series, alongside the leading 9300 flat fold respirator.
Choosing the right disposable respirator can be a very daunting process and so to help with the decision process, 3M has re-positioned its different ranges into five easy categories – Classic, Comfort, Premium, Welding and Speciality.
To get your free sample of the 8300 series visit www.3M.co.uk/comfortcounts
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