Severe PI: Healthcare Q&A 3: Goggles/Face Shields: The HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan does not recommend the use of goggles or face shields for routine contact with patients with pandemic influenza; however, if sprays or splatters of infectious material are likely, it states that goggles or a face shield should be worn as recommended for standard precautions. If a pandemic influenza patient is coughing, any healthcare worker who needs to be within 6 feet of the infected patient is likely to encounter sprays of infectious material. Eye and face protection should be used in this situation, as well as during the performance of aerosol-generating procedures. For additional information about eye protection for infection control, see NIOSH's Eye Protection for Infection Control. Respiratory Protection for Pandemic Influenza: While droplet transmission is likely to be the major route of exposure for pandemic influenza, as is the case with seasonal influenza, it may not be the only route. Given the potential severity of health consequences (illness and death) associated with pandemic influenza, a comprehensive influenza preparedness plan should address airborne transmission to ensure that healthcare workers are protected against all potential routes of exposure. More information on the elements of a comprehensive respiratory protection program and the use of respirators can be found in the Respiratory Protection Safety and Health Topics Page. Respirators: A respirator is a personal protective device that is worn on the face, covers at least the nose and mouth, and is used to reduce the wearer's risk of inhaling hazardous gases, vapors, or airborne particles (e.g., dust or droplet nuclei containing infectious agents). (a) A type of respirator commonly found in healthcare workplaces is the filtering facepiece respirator (often referred to as an "N95"). It is designed to protect against particulate hazards. Since airborne biological agents such as bacteria or viruses are particles, they can be filtered by particulate respirators. To assure a consistent level of performance, the respirator's filtering efficiency is tested and certified by NIOSH. (b) Respirator filters that remove at least 95 percent of airborne particles, during "worst case" testing using the "most-penetrating" size of particle, are given a 95 rating. Recent HHS/CDC infection control guidance documents provide recommendations that healthcare workers protect themselves from diseases potentially spread through the air by wearing a fit tested respirator at least as protective as a NIOSH-certified N95 respirator. (c) Once worn in the presence of an infectious patient, the respirator should be considered potentially contaminated with infectious material, and touching the outside of the device should be avoided. Upon leaving the patient's room, the disposable respirator should be removed and discarded, followed by proper hand hygiene. (d) If a sufficient supply of respirators is not available during a pandemic, healthcare facilities may consider reuse as long as the device has not been obviously soiled or damaged (e.g., creased or torn), and it retains its ability to function properly. (e) If disposable respirators need to be reused by an individual user after caring for infectious patients, employers should implement a procedure for safe reuse to prevent contamination through contact with infectious materials on the outside of the respirator. (f) Powered air-purifying respirators use HEPA filters which are as efficient as P100 filters and will protect against airborne infectious agents. Powered air-purifying respirators provide a higher level of protection than disposable respirators. Healthcare facilities have used higher levels of respiratory protection, including powered air-purifying respirators, for persons present during aerosol-generating medical procedures, such as bronchoscopy, on patients with infectious pulmonary diseases. (g) Although some disposable respirators look similar to surgical masks, it is important that healthcare workers understand the significant functional difference between disposable respirators and surgical masks. (h) Surgical masks are not designed to prevent inhalation of airborne contaminants. (i) Surgical masks are not considered adequate respiratory protection for airborne transmission of pandemic influenza. (j) Surgical masks are also used as a physical barrier to protect the healthcare worker from hazards such as splashes of blood or bodily fluids. (k) When both fluid protection (e.g., blood splashes) and respiratory protection are needed, a "surgical N95" respirator can be used. This respirator is approved by FDA and certified by NIOSH. For a more complete discussion of respirator use during an influenza pandemic, see the section titled "Respiratory Protection for Pandemic Influenza" that begins on page 27 of OSHA Publication 3328. See more from topic source: https://www.osha.gov/html/a-z-index.html