Course Access
Hi Rebecca,
The way I understand it a P2 respirator and an N95 respirator are functionally the same. N95 is NIOSH designation in the United Sates. P2 is the Australia classification. Both filter almost to the same level with N95 filtering 95% of particles and P2 filter 94% of particles (although there are slightly different particle sizes and velocities in the respective standards which means a respirator may be meeting both standards and EN classification as well). P2 is the Australian designation and relates to the AS/NZS standard 1716 (2009). In an Australian facility we should be using P2 respirators (and using this description in our documents) as this is what our standard requires. Manufacturers may only brand their product as N95 but they may meet P2 as well If so the manufacturer should provide written documentation of this.
We should also be encouraging the use of the correct terminology as these are respiratory protective devices (respirators) under the standard and not masks. Because of this there are the requirements of medical clearance to use, fit testing and education programs in the standard that health services need to provide for staff using these devices, which is where our colleagues in Workplace Health and Safety come in.
Cheers Matt
Matt Mason
RN, BNSci, Grad Dip (Remote Health), M Rural Health, M Adv Prac (Inf Cont), CICP
Lecturer/Campus Co-ordinator
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition
James Cook University
Thursday Island
Qld, 4875
Australia
P: (07) 4069 2670
I: +61 7 4069 2670
F: (07) 4069 2627
E: matt.mason@jcu.edu.au
W: http://www.jcu.edu.au/nursing/
JCU CRICOS Provider Code: 00117J
Messages posted to this list are solely the opinion of the authors, and do not represent the opinion of ACIPC.
Archive of all messages are available at http://aicalist.org.au/archives – registration and login required.
Replies to this message will be directed back to the list. To create a new message send an email to aicalist@aicalist.org.au
To send a message to the list administrator send an email to aicalist-request@aicalist.org.au.
You can unsubscribe from this list be sending ‘signoff aicalist’ (without the quotes) to listserv@aicalist.org.au