Respirator rethink

The COVID-19 pandemic has put great stress on the personal protective equipment (PPE) supply chain. Some large industrial operations had to temporarily shut down for lack of PPE in the early days of the situation.

One of the most challenging products to get hold of are N95-rated disposable respirators. Because of the stress placed on hospitals across North America, these masks are in short supply, and even supplies of similarly rated disposables continue to be a challenge.

Although it’s hardly a situation one wants to make hay from, Dentec Safety Specialists founder and President Claudio Dente appreciates the fact that more industrial respirator users are now seeing the value of reusable masks – a product that Dentec manufactures in Lenexa, Kans.

Local Supply Chains

Dentec Safety Specialists is a Newmarket, Ont.-based, family-run and -operated wholesaler supporting the distribution of safety products founded in 2004. From the beginning, however, Dente was keen to be directly in control of the manufacture of the company’s products whenever possible. For that reason, in 2010 Dentec purchased a first aid products manufacturing company. This was followed by the purchase of the respirator operations in Kansas four years later.

Dente’s purchase of the respirator operations seems prophetic now, but like the man in the Gillette commercial, it was a product he liked, he had the opportunity to buy it, so he did.

“Over the years, with consolidation, there really aren’t that many manufacturers of masks at all,” said Dente. “The only mask product we don’t make ourselves is our full-facemask respirators.”

Dente made it a key part of the company’s mission to source all parts of their product locally as well.

“All the cartridges, filters, and resins for the half-masks are made and assembled in the U.S.,” he said. “We’ve been fortunate at this time that our supply chain has remained solid. Because of the increased volume, we can’t necessarily deliver masks to a customer in a few days, but we can give them a reliable delivery date.”

Comfort Concerns

Protection is the key benefit of any mask but, as Dente notes, the comfort of any tool is a big part of keeping employees working. Dentec’s half-mask, as he sees it, stands out because it has larger inhalation valves than the typical reusable mask and a very sensitive corrugated diaphragm that reacts to the wearer’s breath and expels hot air efficiently, reducing heat build-up and delivering greater wearer comfort.

“That’s the biggest problem with disposables,” said Dente. “You quickly get uncomfortably warm.”

Comfort is key to a lot of safety products, Dente said.

“When you think of how some trades work in the heat outdoors all day, they are athletes,” he said. “I don’t know how some of them do it, it’s physically and emotionally challenging. The last thing you need are safety glasses that don’t fit or a mask that is uncomfortable.”

Dente tries to think of every possible encumbrance when he thinks of products to carry, including bug spray and sunscreen. “It’s all PPE,” he said.

The other benefit of a reusable mask like this is that not only can the wearer fit-test it, he or she can also fit-check the mask, which is difficult to do with a disposable product.

“Being able to do that gives you the extra peace of mind that those using it are being properly protected on the job,” said Dente. “From a liability standpoint, that can be critical.”

Protection Expansion

The Kansas operation, meanwhile, has expanded its operations in the past year to include the manufacture of face shields.

“The double crown face shield we make is designed so that it covers both the face and throat area. The chin guard is designed in such a way that when you nod downwards to grind a part, for instance, it completely covers the neck and throat. And the visor is secured on both sides such that if anything were to hit it, the visor won’t buckle and hit the user’s face.”

Dente’s enthusiasm for all things safety is palpable. I encourage you to visit the Dentec website to see Dente’s personal demonstration of the company’s respirator.

Going forward, it’s likely that sourcing locally will be critical for a lot of products as supply chains struggle to keep materials moving. It will be interesting to continue watching how distributors adapt to this situation. Meantime, it’s worth considering how best to ensure you get the tools you need to keep operating at full capacity.

Editor Robert Colman can be reached at rcolman@canadianfabweld.com.

Dentec Safety Specialists Inc., www.dentecsafety.com