PPE & WORKWEAR
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Armed with a refreshed tag line – ‘Science. Applied to Life’ – and a new material invented at the University of Manchester, 3M has unveiled its latest game changer in the world of respiratory protection.
For workers in environments where the air is contaminated with organic gases and vapours, face masks are a vital barrier to inhalation. Filters that capture harmful molecules before they reach the nose and mouth are invaluable in protecting workers, but the technology is not always foolproof.
Users often struggle to pinpoint when they should change their filters. It is all too common to wait until the odour or taste of a contaminant invades the respirator, which is clearly too late – the harmful substance has already been inhaled.
On the other side of the coin, and following the cautious guidance of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), some users may be changing their filters too often. This is a better approach to take from a health perspective, but it could be costing businesses hundreds of pounds a year.
As a company with a focus on applying science to life, 3M’s team of researchers has sought out a solution
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to this problem. The diversified technology company revealed its Organic Gas and Vapour End of Service Life Indicator Filters – for use across a vast variety of industries – at the
International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA) conference in London on 28th April.
The product, which 3M says is the first of its kind, is paving the way for improved occupational health by giving respirator wearers a clear warning to change their filters and prevent hazardous exposure.
3M’s new innovation has utilised the company’s End of Service Life Indicator (ESLI) technology. Made out of a polymer invented by academics at the University of Manchester, the ESLI is located inside the filter next to the activated carbon which captures the organic molecules. As organic vapours travel through the filter, they are also absorbed into the ESLI.
As this happens, the indicator changes colour, visually marking the course of the organic vapours through the filter. Dependant on the viewing angle, the user will either see a red bar on a green background, or vice-versa. Once the bar reaches the end-of-service
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