PPE Supply and Usage Guidance
6/19/2020:
Top Picks for Workplace Temp-Taking Once you’re open for business, you can lower your risk of viral spread by taking temperatures before people enter your building. Which touchless digital thermometer is most reliable and best for your business? Conney Safety’s workplace safety experts give us their top picks, along with temp-taking best practices. READ MORE
Up and Running: Training, Supplies and Services Whether you’re preparing to re-open, maintaining a virus-free workplace, or responding to a case of COVID-19, Conney Safety has the experience, training, and products you need to keep workers and customers safe. From online safety training to viral distancing gear and protective supplies, we are here to help. READ MORE
The Scoop on KN95 vs N95 Masks N95 respirators can be hard to find, due to high demand. But there are readily available alternatives, like the KN95 face mask – China’s equivalent of the N95 respirator. How does the KN95 perform compared to the N95? FIND OUT
5/5/2020:
KN95 Respirators Now In Stock
KN95 respirators are similar to N95 respirators in function. The KN95 is China's equivalent of the U.S. NIOSH-approved N95 respirator. Both respirators are rated to capture 95% of tiny particles (0.3 microns). Overall, respirator performance is the same or similar for filtration, flow rate, total inward leakage, inhalation resistance, CO2 clearance requirement, and exhalation valve leakage. N95 respirators have slightly stronger requirements for breathability (inhalation and exhalation pressure drop). Also, the masks are tested and certified by different groups (the N95 meets NIOSH standards, and the KN95 meets Chinese government standards). Most respirator manufacturers consider the KN95 a reasonable alternative when N95 respirators are unavailable. Shop Conney Safety's KN95 Respirators.
4/28/2020:
FREE COVID-19 Workplace Safety Webinars
Conney Safety and Hazmasters are presenting a series of free webinars, each focusing on COVID-19 preparedness and response in the workplace. Watch recordings of past sessions.
Post This Poster – It’s Mandatory
As of April 1, 2020, workplaces with 500 employees or fewer and all public agencies (schools and federal, state, and municipal workplaces) must display a Federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave Poster. Order Emergency Paid Sick Leave Posters.
Back-to-Work Safety Solutions: Two-Way Radios
Empower work teams to stay connected and informed while maintaining safe personal distance with digital two-way radios. Shop Conney Safety’s Radio Communication Solutions.
Back-to-Work Safety Solutions: Contact-Free Temperature Monitoring
Contact-free temperature scanning can provide an extra measure of reassurance and prevent unnecessary viral spread. Shop Conney Safety’s Contact-Free Thermometers.
Back-to-Work Safety Solutions: Floor and Barrier Tape
Tape can be one of your best workplace defenses against COVID-19. Shop Conney Safety’s Floor and Barrier Tape Solutions
Halt on Pandemic-Related Product Exports
We can no longer export the following products, effective immediately. For more information, please read FEMA Implements Export Restrictions on Certain PPE Products, with Immediate Effect and Notice of Designation of Scarce Materials or Threatened Materials Subject to COVID-19..
How We’re Fulfilling Your Orders
Our supplier partners are limiting products to us, and in turn, we are prioritizing sales to our established and contract customers. Find Out What’s in Stock.
OSHA Using Discretion in Compliance Evaluations
OSHA and Compliance Safety and Health Officers will evaluate compliance efforts in a modified manner, reflecting current limitations, effectively immediately. Read More
OSHA Guidance on Reducing Viral Risk in Retail, Construction, Manufacturing, and Package Delivery Sectors
To best reduce coronavirus exposure, OSHA has issued industry-specific guidance on reducing risk in the workplace. Overall guidance includes encouraging sick workers to stay home, allowing mask and PPE use, and promoting safe respiratory hygiene practices. Learn More About OSHA’s Industry-Specific Guidance.
Essential But Exposed: Protecting Workers After Exposure
What should you do – and not do – to best protect essential workers and those around them after exposure to COVID-19? Here are the CDC Recommendations.
4/1/2020:
EEBD Respirator Shortages
3M™ Scott™ Fire & Safety is running into parts shortages for the current 3M™ Scott™ ELSA Emergency Escape Breathing Devices (EEBD) product line. Respirators affected include:
| Part Number |
Description |
| 2009164 |
ELSA EEBD, 5 Minute |
| 2001965 |
ELSA EEBD, 10 Minute |
| 201398-32-D |
ELSA EEBD, 5 Minute, Drained |
| 201398-33-D |
ELSA EEBD, 10 Minute, Drained |
The current ELSA EEBD line will be discontinued within 1-2 months and replaced with a new EEBD line later this year. A gap in availability may occur. Select spare parts continue to be available. For more details, read the 3M™ Scott™ ELSA EEBD Product Bulletin.
Best Practices: Disinfecting Fall and Head Protection PPE
To protect workers from the COVID-19 virus, our supplier partner MSA has updated disinfecting guidance for fall and head protection PPE. The CDC recommends using products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims. Just look for the EPA registration number on the label. Then see if that number is also listed on the EPA’s list of approved products.
This list is not all-inclusive. Also, products may be marketed under different brand names. If they have the same EPA registration number, they are the same product. Closely follow disinfecting instructions and necessary contact time issued by the product manufacturer. This is usually about 10 minutes but can range from one to 30 minutes.
After disinfection, fully rinse PPE to eliminate residue that may impact PPE integrity. As always, continue pre-use inspections and regular competent person inspections, as specified by local standards and regulations.
3/26/2020:
PPE Supply Update
The CDC expects to identify more cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. in the coming days, including more instances of community spread. In addition, the CDC is planning for widespread transmission throughout the U.S., with most of the U.S. population exposed to this virus.
New Importing Guidelines
The CDC and FDA have announced updated importing guidelines for pandemic-related PPE. In summary, they will allow importing of pandemic-related PPE, including respirators and other devices for the healthcare field. Devices must meet the certification standards of the country of origin. This measure does not meet traditional U.S. standards of care, but may help lessen current shortages.
N95 Respirator Alternatives
As long as respirator supply is short, the CDC recommends using respirators with similar protection to NIOSH-approved respirators. This web page includes list of respirators with protection factors of 10 or higher.
Using Expired N95 Respirators
It is preferable to use an expired N95 respirator than a facemask. However, they may not perform to certified levels. Components such as the straps and nose bridge may degrade, which can affect fit and seal. As such, it is critical to perform a fit test and seal check prior to patient care. The CDC does not recommend using N95s beyond shelf life in surgical settings. Implement expired respirators according to CDC guidance.
Re-using N95 Respirators
Re-use should be implemented only as an option for conserving respirators or when caring for patients with varicella or measles. Be aware that there is a transmission risk to workers who implement this practice. Read more for further guidance.
Homemade Mask Usage
As a last resort, health care professionals may need to use facemasks that are homemade or have not been evaluated/approved by NIOSH. Only do so if N95 respirators are so limited that routine standards of practice are no longer possible, and surgical masks are not available.
Prioritizing N95 Respirator Use
Prioritization should only be practiced when N95 respirators are extremely limited. In this situation, provide N95 respirators to workers with the highest potential for exposure.
When No Respirators are Available
During severe resource limitations, consider re-assigning high-risk health care professionals (older age, pregnant, or having a chronic medical condition) to duties that don’t include COVID-19 patient care. It may be possible to assign health care professionals who have clinically recovered from COVID-19. Individuals who have recovered may have developed some protective immunity, but this has not yet been confirmed.
Additional Recommendations
The CDC offers additional recommendations to reduce virus spread, including HEPA fan and filtration, negative pressure, ventilated headboards, and more.
3/23/2020:
Plan for Shortages and Order Delays
Suppliers continue to receive unprecedented requests for COVID-19-related PPE. PPE suppliers and the companies they rely upon are working as fast as possible, often around the clock, to meet demand. As of now, suppliers will expect some disruption over the next several months, due to global supply chain delays.
As long as supplies are limited, they will place priority on fulfilling orders for:
- Government and first responders
- Medical and hospital personnel
- Critical infrastructure workers (utilities, etc.)
Please note that until further notice, we cannot process customer returns, refunds, cancellations, and repairs or service requests for customer-used product.
3/17/2020:
Due to the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the safety industry is experiencing a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other products. Increased demand for coronavirus-related items* along with supply chain disruptions for items manufactured in China has severely limited product supply. Our goal is to fulfill all of our customer orders, but due to the current challenges, we will prioritize customers with an existing purchase history of that item before fulfilling orders for new customers. All orders of coronavirus-related items will be non-cancellable, non-returnable, and non-refundable.
*Coronavirus-related PPE items include:
- Respirators and masks of all types
- Disposable gloves
- Disposable protective clothing
- Goggles
- Hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes
- More items may be added to this list over time
Coronavirus-related PPE may appear to be out of stock on conney.com. You can get information and place orders on available stock, alternative items, by calling our Customer Service department at 800.356.9100 or emailing salesservice@conney.com.
Finally, for our local customers, we will be open to pick up product during normal business hours but due to an abundance of caution for our customers and employees, we will not have our showroom area open to the public.
