InTents October/November 2020 - 43

practices such as social distancing, and
PPE. However, employers may choose to
ensure that cloth face coverings are worn
as a feasible means of abatement in a
control plan designed to address hazards
from COVID-19.
Should workers wear a cloth face
covering at work?
OSHA recommends that employers
encourage workers to wear face coverings
at work. Employers have the discretion to
determine whether to allow employees to
wear cloth face coverings in the workplace
based on speciϐic circumstances present
at the work site. For some workers,
employers may determine that wearing
a cloth face covering presents or
exacerbates a hazard, such as becoming
contaminated with chemicals used
in the work environment or, over the
duration of a work shift, a cloth face
covering becoming damp from a worker's
breathing. Where cloth face coverings are
not appropriate in the work environment
or during certain job tasks, employers
can provide PPE, such as face shields or
surgical masks.
Does wearing a medical/surgical
mask or cloth face covering cause
unsafe oxygen levels or carbon
dioxide levels to the wearer?
No. Medical masks, including surgical
masks, do not compromise oxygen levels
or cause carbon dioxide buildup. They
are designed to be breathed through and
can protect against respiratory droplets,
which are typically much larger than tiny
carbon dioxide particles.
Cloth face coverings are loose-ϐitting
with no seal and are designed to be
breathed through. In addition, workers
may easily remove their medical masks
or cloth face coverings periodically (and
when not in close proximity with others)
to eliminate any negligible build-up of
carbon dioxide that might occur.

How should I keep my reusable cloth
face covering clean?
According to the CDC, cloth face coverings
should be washed after each use and can
be cleaned by washing machine or by
hand. If washing by machine, use regular
laundry detergent and the warmest
appropriate water setting for the cloth
used to make the mask. If washing by
hand, prepare a bleach solution by mixing
5 tablespoons of household bleach per
gallon of room temperature water, soak
the mask in the solution for 5 minutes
and rinse with cool or room temperature
water. Cloth face masks can be dried
either on the highest heat setting in a
dryer machine or they can be air dried.
For additional information and
resources about workplace safety and
COVID-19, visit www.osha.gov.

WANT MORE?
WE HAVE IT!
Search "COVID-19" at
www.InTentsMag.com

Women in Textiles
Summit
March 3-5, 2021 | Château Élan Winery & Resort
Braselton, GA USA | IFAI.com/Women

SAVE the DATE
A Summit for Experienced and Emerging Leaders

Conduct business while making connections
at the Women in Textiles Summit 2021. The
Summit gathers some of the brightest leaders in
the textiles industry to share, grow and network.

IFAI.com/Women

www.InTentsMag.com

1020IT_p38_CV4.indd 43

43

9/17/20 9:21 AM
http://www.InTentsMag.com http://www.osha.gov http://www.IFAI.com/Women http://www.IFAI.com/Women http://www.InTentsMag.com
InTents October/November 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of InTents October/November 2020
