Month: April 2021

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The Best Way to Wear a Face Mask for Work or Play

Because they are designed to help reduce the wearer’s exposure to airborne particles, and unwanted particulates, wearing a face mask helps keep everyone safe in possibly contaminated environments. At Liberty Glove & Safety, we know that no mask will protect you if it doesn’t fit properly. To help you not only choose a suitable mask but also wear it correctly, we’ve put together some information that can help.

Find a mask that fits

Keep in mind that there are many models out there. You don’t have to settle on one that doesn’t sit well on your face or feels uncomfortable. It’s a good idea to practice putting on your mask in a clean area before using it in public or at work.

Whatever mask you choose, it should:

  1. Cover your chin, mouth, and nose
  2. Fit snugly, leaving no gaps
  3. Not impact your vision
  4. Be as comfortable as possible

For best practice, follow the directions provided in the packaging or learn more by checking out our Respiratory Protection Fit and Wear guide here.

Ear loops or head strap?

A face mask with ear loops has some advantages. The ear loops can be more flexible and feel slightly more comfortable when wearing work or recreational headgear.

1891 3-ply Face Masks with Ear Loops Fabric wrapped elastic headbands include an adjustable aluminum nose piece and ear loops for easy wear. Compliant with ASTM F2100-2019 Level Standards, these face masks are applicable in environments with minimal fluid exposure.

1891 3-ply Face Masks with Ear Loops Fabric wrapped elastic headbands include an adjustable aluminum nose piece and ear loops for easy wear. Compliant with ASTM F2100-2019 Level Standards, these face masks are applicable in environments with minimal fluid exposure.

On the other hand, headbands or head straps have a more secure fit that prevents any leakage. But, because of the stretchy nature of the material used, headbands can break when overstretched and are harder to manage with thick hair.

1890 Nuisance Masks with Headband Fabric wrapped elastic headbands also include an adjustable aluminum nose piece but have head straps instead of ear loops for easy wear. Available with one head strap or two head straps (1890D), these face masks are used for protection against minimal fluid exposure and are ideal in non-toxic dust, pollen, mold, and dander environments.

1890 Nuisance Masks with Headband Fabric wrapped elastic headbands also include an adjustable aluminum nose piece but have head straps instead of ear loops for easy wear. Available with one head strap or two head straps (1890D), these face masks are used for protection against minimal fluid exposure and are ideal in non-toxic dust, pollen, mold, and dander environments.

Mask comfort with max protection

Face masks that are more on the heavy-duty side create even more of a barrier for minimal fluid exposure. Particulate respirators, or what you might know better as an N95 face mask, offer fluid resistance and filtration efficiency of 95% per government regulatory standards. We currently provide two N95 particulate respirators to choose from, the 1895N and the 1895NV.

1895N N95 Particulate Respirator with Head Straps NIOSH approved N95 particulate respirators provide a fabric wrapped elastic headband with an adjustable aluminum nose piece bridge and two head straps for maximum protection. These 42CFE Part 84 compliant respirators are tested for fluid resistance and filtration efficiency and are used in environments that require 95 percent filtration.

1895N N95 Particulate Respirator with Head Straps NIOSH approved N95 particulate respirators provide a fabric wrapped elastic headband with an adjustable aluminum nose piece bridge and two head straps for maximum protection. These 42CFE Part 84 compliant respirators are tested for fluid resistance and filtration efficiency and are used in environments that require 95 percent filtration.

1895NV N95 Particulate Respirator with Exhalation Valve and Head Straps NIOSH approved N95 particulate respirators with exhalation valve provide the same features and compliant standards as above and include an exhalation valve for extra comfort in environments with warm temperatures to reduce air build-up.

1895NV N95 Particulate Respirator with Exhalation Valve and Head Straps NIOSH approved N95 particulate respirators with exhalation valve provide the same features and compliant standards as above and include an exhalation valve for extra comfort in environments with warm temperatures to reduce air build-up.

Masking up outside of work

Everyday face masks are still a recommended protection in some situations. Though these types of masks don’t necessarily need to be as heavy-duty as those we wear at work, they still need to meet high performance and protection standards.

When wearing a mask outside of work, remember to:

  1. Wear it over your nose and mouth
  2. Make sure it fits snugly (limit gaps)
  3. Avoid touching it (wash your hands if you do)

Reduce the risk of transferring airborne particles with these Liberty Glove & Safety face masks designed for common use.

1891KD 3-ply Face Masks with Ear Loops for Kids Looking for kid’s size face masks? These fabric wrapped elastic headbands offer the same features and compliance as our adult sizes 1891 face masks but are ideal for kids. Dimensions include: 5.75” x 3.75” and are latex-free. Limited Stock (While Supplies Last)

1891KD 3-ply Face Masks with Ear Loops for Kids Looking for kid’s size face masks? These fabric wrapped elastic headbands offer the same features and compliance as our adult sizes 1891 face masks but are ideal for kids. Dimensions include: 5.75” x 3.75” and are latex-free. Limited Stock (While Supplies Last)

1895KN – 4-ply Face Masks with Ear Loops Fabric wrapped elastic headbands include an adjustable aluminum nose piece and ear loops. These 4-ply face masks soft and comfortable don and doff, and latex-free ear straps.This mask is great at preventing airborne particles from entering through your nose or mout due to the extra layer of fabrich. Limited Stock (While Supplies Last)

1895KN – 4-ply Face Masks with Ear Loops Fabric wrapped elastic headbands include an adjustable aluminum nose piece and ear loops. These 4-ply face masks soft and comfortable don and doff, and latex-free ear straps. This mask is great at preventing airborne particles from entering through your nose or mouth due to the extra layer of fabric. Limited Stock (While Supplies Last)

Note: KN95 Face Masks are not NIOSH approved

Our masks are evolving to suit your needs

Based on decades of experience with PPE, Liberty Glove & Safety continually look for improvements in the face masks we offer. Look for our new line of NIOSH approved particulate respirator masks coming soon in Q2 of 2021.

1895NH N95 Heat Sealed Straps Particulate Respirator with Head Straps Coming soon in our respiratory safety product line, these NIOSH approved N95 particulate respirators provide a fabric wrapped elastic head band with an adjustable aluminum nose piece bridge and two heat-sealed head straps for maximum protection. These 42CFE Part 84 compliant respirators are tested for fluid resistance and filtration efficiency and are used in environments that require 95 percent filtration.

1895NF N95 3-Panel Flat Fold Particulate Respirator with Head Straps Looking for a flat fold respirator for convenient storage? Also coming soon, these NIOSH approved N95 particulate respirators provide a flat-fold fabric wrapped elastic headband with an adjustable aluminum nose piece bridge and two head straps for maximum protection. Providing the same compliance standards as our other particulate respirators, this respirator offers maximum protection and flat-fold convenience.

Moving Safety Forward

Solutions for worker wellness and workplace productivity are a priority for the team at Liberty Glove & Safety. We will continue to offer a wide range of essential PPE such as face masks and particulate respirators aimed at keeping people safe.

Learn more about our respiratory product line here, or contact your LGS sales professional today.

It has been just over a year since the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared coronavirus (SARS -CoV-2) a pandemic. LGS is committed to providing exceptional safety solutions during these unprecedented times. Our team continues to work diligently to serve our customers with excellence. Learn more about Coronavirus at the WHO website here or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website here.

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Hi-Vis Safety Apparel Standard Update (2020) Explained

A new revision to the ANSI and the ISEA issue standards for high visibility safety apparel is now available. ANSI/ISEA stands for American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear. The ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 is the latest update since 2015 and reflects the pace of research and technology in safety equipment.

As a leader in the PPE industry, Liberty Glove and Safety (LGS) recognizes the importance of upholding ANSI/ISEA standards and their revisions. To meet the latest standard updates, we will have a rolling change for all our hi-vis apparel effective Q2 of 2021.

As the PPE industry adopts these new standards, LGS will continue to align our safety products with the latest ANSI/ISEA standards to keep our customers safe.

We’ve laid out a general explanation of some of the more specific changes below, but you can access your free copy of the full ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 report here.

What has changed since the 2015 standard?

The ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 contains significant changes, focusing on the following key elements:

  • Updated Label Markings
  • Single-Use Disposable Coveralls
  • Flame Resistant Protective Clothing
  • Optional Testing for Overall Luminance

New hi-vis garments included

Since 2015, many new garments that are classified as high-visibility safety apparel (HVSA) have been added to the industry. The updated standard took that into account with its Class Definitions.

The type-performance class was retained but now includes type and performance. The “type designation” is based on how the garment is expected to be used. The garment’s “performance class” is based on how much materials are visible and the design attributes that have been used with the garment itself.

Accessories removed as a separate class

The old standards contained criteria for hi-vis accessories; this has been removed because it is now recognized within the type-performance class. Wearers of HVSA are still encouraged and often required to use these accessories. Gloves, hoods, and head coverings are just some of the HVSA accessories that offer increased protection.

New standards for marking and ergonomics were added

Provisions on both general and specific products are now required to be marked on the product itself or the attached labels. The markings must be permanent and durable for the maximum number of washings and include the seven criteria enumerated in the ANSI/ISEA standards.

Updated design standards include an emphasis on ergonomics. Specific configurations were inserted for all the new types of ergonomically designed garments along with their corresponding classes.

Updates to criteria for optional features and testing

  1. Single-Use Disposable Coveralls

The new standards recognized the crucial importance of worker visibility when used in environments where garments can easily be soiled, lessening visibility. New measures were added for single-use disposable coveralls for this reason.

However, this new standard configuration for coveralls still follows the minimum required amounts for material and the color requirements imposed on all HVSA.

There are new requirements regarding the integrity of materials, but these requirements apply only to single-use disposable coveralls. They now require unique markings to make them more distinguishable.

  1. Flame Resistant Protective Clothing

The new standard requires HVSAs to be marked as flame-resistant and tested according to any one of the following specifications or standards: ASTM F1506-19, ASTM F1891-19, ASTM F2302-10, ASTM F 2733-17, NFPA 1977, and NFPA 2112.

While the old standards contained test methods, these methods have been updated closely to follow other tests for material integrity.

  1. Optional Testing for Overall Luminance

Regarding the optional testing method for overall luminance, the new standard provides for ASTM E-1501-99 from 2004, Standard Specification for Nighttime Photometric Performance of Retroreflective Pedestrian Markings for Visibility Enhancement.

In addition to this test, the 2020 standard provides specific settings in which garments must be tested according to ASTM E1501-99. Manufacturers may report test results on an optional basis per the ANSI/ISEA 107 Declaration of Conformity which include:

  • Field view
  • Range of illumination
  • Measurements of luminous intensity
  1. Measuring Nighttime Luminosity

The 2020 standards have inserted a concept for the measurement of a garment’s overall nighttime luminosity. With this concept, an optional language was included so that the manufacturer can test nighttime luminosity according to ASTM E1501-99.

What Does This Mean for LGS apparel?

  1. Current ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 are still acceptable to use. LGS will have a rolling change effective Q2 of 2021.
  2. Single-Use Disposable Coveralls includes requirements regarding the integrity of materials and identification.
  3. Flame Resistant Protective Clothing includes the same test marking requirements.
  4. Overall Luminance will have optional testing for conformity including field view, range of illumination, and measurements of luminance intensity.
  5. Complaint High-Visibility Product Labels will be tested for the number of washings as required but no longer needs to be marked.

New LGS safety vests meet ANSI/ISEA standards

HiVizGard™ garments alert drivers or other vehicle operators of a worker’s presence, especially in low light and dark conditions.

Applicable for general construction, airport workers, warehouse workers, road maintenance, and other industries, our products are engineered with comfort and style without compromising safety.

Gear up with HiVizGard™ as your hi-vis protective apparel solution.

C16015FB

Class 2 Surveyor’s Vest with Black Bottom

  • Solid front and mesh back
  • 2” silver reflective stripes
  • Left and right mic tabs
  • Black bottom to conceal dirt and grime
  • Four outside pockets including clear ID pocket and pen pockets
  • Four inside pockets including hidden back pocket
  • Sizes: S-4XL
  • Available in Orange and Hi-Vis Green
C16016G

Class 2 Engineer Surveyor’s Vest

  • Solid front and mesh back
  • 2” silver reflective stripes with contrasting trim
  • Left and right mic tabs
  • Two grommets
  • Eight outside pockets including clear ID pocket, pen pockets, and spray-can pockets
  • Four inside pockets including hidden back pocket
  • Sizes: S-4XL
C16017F

Class 2 Surveyor’s Vest

  • Solid front and mesh back
  • 2” silver reflective stripes with contrasting trim
  • Left and right mic tabs
  • Six outside pockets including clear ID pocket and pen pockets
  • Two inside pockets
  • Sizes: S-4XL
  • Available in Orange and Hi-Vis Green
C16032GB

Class 2 Surveyor’s Vest

  • Solid front and mesh back
  • 2” silver reflective stripes with contrasting trim
  • Left and right mic tabs
  • Four outside pockets including clear ID pocket and pen pockets
  • Four inside pockets including hidden back pocket
  • Sizes: S-4XL
  • Related: Available in Hi-Vis Green and Orange
  • Related: C16042 – Mesh front and back, Available in Hi-Vis and Orange – Sizes: S-4XL

Now compliant with ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 standards, find our full HiVizGard™ Protective Apparel product offering at our Liberty Glove and Safety website here.

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