When 2020 began, the sight of folks wearing face masks who weren’t performing manual labor, treating patients, or robbing banks was inconceivable. As this dreadful year draws to a close, face coverings are ubiquitous but NIOSH-approved respirators are more elusive than an ivory billed woodpecker. COVID-19 is a hard reminder that good health cannot be taken for granted.
We’ve learned some valuable lessons this year: Jobsite hygiene is no laughing matter; airborne contaminants can be breathed out as well as in; an effective respiratory protection plan cannot solely depend on a filter over the face; and, perhaps most important, for people with compromised respiratory systems, some viruses can be lethal.
“This is the year of the lung, so to speak,” says Michelle Kelley, spokesperson for Oneida Air Systems, a manufacturer of dust control systems for jobsites and woodworking shops. “Hopefully, people will be more aware of how much damage breathing in airborne hazards such as silica, and even sawdust, can do over the long haul.”
