It was bitterly clear to Michael Javate the importance of a proper fitting face mask. Moments before Maria Champagne of AgSafe Alberta sprayed a bitter scent into a cover over his head designed to test the fit of face masks.
Instantly Javate’s face screwed up as his tongue absorbed the bitter-tasting spray. The test was repeated, but with Javate’s face covered with an N95 protective mask and the taste was negligible.
“If you can taste it, it is an indication the mask doesn’t fit properly,” said Champagne.
Champagne and Jody Wacowich, executive director of AgSafe Alberta were at the Alberta Pork Congress in Red Deer promoting the awareness of AgSafe and their new Respiratory Protective Equipment videos. The set of videos, designed for farms to show staff the proper way to fit masks and to take on and off the masks properly.
Wacowich said they built the on-line course and created the videos to help farmers and their staff know about the importance of masks and their proper fit for men and women.
Wacowich said the Occupational Health and Safety Act says there is a “general obligation for safety on all farms with employees.”
While the regulations and codes were removed from legislation, the act remains and OHS officers will look to other industries to see what the “good standards” are for agriculture.
If N95 masks need to be provided in an area that is determined to be a hazard, farmers should be making sure the masks fit, said Wacowich.
Check the AgSafe website for all offered services. agsafeab.ca •
— By Mary MacArthur