Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

ResearchCoronavirusHealth and safetyOccupational HealthOHW+

Upgrading face masks ‘cuts Covid-19 infection to zero’, study finds

by Ashleigh Webber 29 Jun 2021
by Ashleigh Webber 29 Jun 2021 Shutterstock
Shutterstock

Upgrading the face masks issued to frontline health workers can reduce occupational Covid-19 infection by up to 100%, a study has shown.

The University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust saw a dramatic reduction in the number of workers on Covid wards infected with the coronavirus after it changed its respiratory protective equipment from fluid-resistant surgical masks to FFP3 respirators in December 2020.

The upgraded face masks provided a tight seal around the nose and mouth, preventing airborne infection.

The researchers found that hospital-acquired infection rates for those working on Covid-19 wards dropped by up to 100% after the FFP3 masks were provided.

The risk of direct infection from working on a Covid ward before the change in respiratory protective equipment was 47 times higher than the risk of community-based exposure, the study found.

Dr Chris Illingworth from the MRC Biostatistics Unit at the University of Cambridge said: “Once FFP3 respirators were introduced, the number of cases attributed to exposure on Covid wards dropped dramatically – in fact, our model suggests that FFP3 respirators may have cut ward-based infection to zero.”

The study’s authors suggested that more research was needed to confirm their findings, but recommended the guidelines for respiratory protective equipment should be revised until more definitive information is available.

Covid-19

Five ways for OH to help with ‘Covid recovery’

Guidance published on Covid-19 and workplace ventilation

Dr Michael Weekes, from the Department of Medicine at the University of Cambridge, said: “Upgrading the equipment so that FFP3 masks are offered to all healthcare workers caring for patients with Covid-19 could reduce the number of infections, keep more hospital staff safe and remove some of the burden on already stretched healthcare services caused by absence of key staff due to illness.

“Vaccination is clearly also an absolute priority for anyone who hasn’t yet taken up their offer.”

Ashleigh Webber
Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is editor at OHW+ and HR and wellbeing editor at Personnel Today. Ashleigh's areas of interest include employee health and wellbeing, equality and inclusion and skills development. She has hosted many webinars for Personnel Today, on topics including employee retention, financial wellbeing and menopause support. Prior to joining Personnel Today in 2018, she covered the road transport sector for Commercial Motor and Motor Transport magazines, touching on some of the employment and wellbeing issues experienced by those in road haulage.

previous post
White paper: How to be a great employer in 2021 and beyond
next post
OH access vital for long Covid return to work, says SOM

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Call for better workplace ventilation as Covid cases...

1 Jul 2022

Business leaders urged to prioritise wellbeing as we...

1 Jul 2022

The outdated views of the anti-hybrid working brigade

9 Jun 2022

What drives vaccine hesitancy among frontline workers?

9 Jun 2022

Warning of long Covid ‘postcode lottery’

9 Jun 2022

Sickness absence rate in 2021 was highest in...

8 Jun 2022

How good nutrition can help long Covid recovery

7 Jun 2022

Long Covid: phased return ‘unlikely’ to help workers

6 Jun 2022

Staff security clearance behind travel chaos, says trade...

1 Jun 2022

Top 10 HR questions May 2022: Bank holidays

1 Jun 2022

  • NSPCC revamps its learning strategy with child wellbeing at its heart PROMOTED | The NSPCC’s mission is to prevent abuse and neglect...Read more
  • Diversity versus inclusion: Why the difference matters PROMOTED | It’s possible for an environment to be diverse, but not inclusive...Read more
  • Five steps for organisations across the globe to become more skills-driven PROMOTED | The shift in the world of work has been felt across the globe...Read more
  • The future of workforce development PROMOTED | Northumbria University and partners share insight...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today