Dear Members,
HSE has issued a Safety Alert this afternoon regarding the poor quality of face masks claiming to be KN95.
A substantial number of face masks, claiming to be of a KN95 standard, provide an inadequate level of protection and are likely to be poor quality products accompanied by fake or fraudulent paperwork. These face masks may also be known as filtering facepiece respirators.
KN95 is a performance rating under the Chinese standard GB2626:2006, the requirements of which are broadly the same as the European standard BSEN149:2001+A1:2009 for FFP2 facemasks. However, there is no independent certification or assurance of their quality and products manufactured to KN95 rating are declared as compliant by the manufacturer.
KN95 must not be used as PPE at work as their effectiveness cannot be assured.
Further information can be found in the full Safety Alert on HSE’s website.