3o Trimestre 16 New masks 3MTM 8825+ FFP2 R D and 8835+ FFP3 R D EN 149: 2001 + A1: 2009: comfortable safety, guaranteed wellbeing Protección Laboral 88 In a work environment where airborne particles pose a risk to the health of workers a series of measures must be implemented to minimize that risk. If de- spite all safety remains committed we should use respiratory personal protective equipment (rPPE). In many cases we nd the dilemma of giving the worker a secure system that, most of the times, will be uncomfortable to wear. After some time bringing the EPI, lack of comfort can lead the worker to leave his post to rest or, in the worst case, to “readjust” or coming to remove the PPE to feel “more comfort- able”, which is usually associated to a situation of exposure to contaminants in the workplace. Without waivers Why giving up to wear a comfortable equipment that gives us the highest safety standards? 3MTM has spent many years researching, designing and manu- facturing equipment that combine the best of worlds, comfortable safety and assured wellbeing. The design in 3 panels was a milestone that led the AuraTM series to get the best views of users and safety managers, winning prizes and awards as well as becoming one of the models most used in the world, with many imitators which in any case have overcome in performance to the original. During the past 20 years, 3M has continued to improve its initial design and manufacturing materials to provide the best protection in the most demanding environments without neglecting comfort. This common situation a few years ago has been solved with increasingly more ergonomic designs, ma- terials with lower breathing resistance and a contin- ued awareness work to achieve a level of safety and comfort never seen until now.Well recognized mod- els as AuraTM mask have been a before and after in the respiratory protection of workers. One more step 3M is not content with having developed which must have become one of the best masks on the market, but seeks excellence in safety, which is substantiated in the progress of the new 8800 series masks: -Having a three-dimensional face seal, in a material that conforms the face, makes it possible that con- tact between the two ensures the lowest loss inward possible, reducing the risk of contaminants entering. This seal does not require an adaptation by the user which makes it faster to put on, easier to learn how to use and provides less variability and therefore greater consistency adjustment, resulting in the actu- al protection offered. -If also the material used in the manufacture of this sealing ring is skin friendly to worker face, soft touch and hypoallergenic, not only a high level of safety will be achieved, but a level of comfort that will help worker to carry his rPPE properly on during all the exposure time to pollutants. “We have been able to combine the lightness and comfort of a particle mask with the facial sealing of a half mask, getting the rst hybrid model on the market. Easier to use, more comfortable to wear and safer. In addition, the face seal allows for easy clean- ing, which, together with the absence of deformation of the mask to achieve proper t, makes it reusable, involving savings regarding the number of consumed masks”, sources of 3M quote. In addition to the 3D sealing ring, two bands of ad- justable t have been incorporated, they’re color-cod- ed according to the level of protection (blue for FFP2 and red for FFP3), which facilitates rapid identi ca- tion and ensures the correct choice of necessary pro- tection level. Outstanding ergonomics Also it has been improved the lter material, increas- ing its ef ciency, thus allowing lighten the weight of masks without losing their effectiveness. This means greater comfort due to weight lessening, and less breathing resistance than in previous models. Workers who must combine respiratory protection and eye protection will notice the difference. A lower design, which dissipates expired heat better, along with the 3MTM Cool FlowTM valve, are meant for pre- venting fogging, while makes the series 8800+ of masks compatible with most 3M safety glasses and with others market available. The use of more sustainable materials, eliminating the metal parts of the mask and using elastomers, PVC-free materials, makes manufacturing more en- vironmentally friendly. Being reusable, less waste is generated. “For the qualities of the product, 3M again leads the market for respiratory protection, going a step ahead in safety and comfort by combining the best of masks and half masks to give workers the highest standards in comfort, without forgetting the importance of oc- cupational hygiene and health”, 3M concludes. 3M has combined the lightness and comfort of a particle mask with the facial sealing of a half mask, creating the rst hybrid market model 43 Updated products