September 2008 - 3M is pleased to confirm that 3M respiratory and eye protection continues to be available to the healthcare market via Southern Syringe Services, following a recent delisting by NHS Supply Chain. 

Respirators are a critical PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) component for the healthcare workforce, designed to reduce the potential exposure of the wearer to airborne hazardous contaminants. It is essential that workers are provided with PPE from a trusted and reliable brand.

3M 1800 Series Particulate Respirators protect the wearer from inhaling airborne particulates such as micro-organisms and aerosols carrying TB and flu viruses. The unvalved and shrouded valve respirators also act as splash resistant surgical masks by reducing patient contamination caused by exhaled organisms from healthcare professionals and protecting the wearer from blood and body fluids splashes.

The 3M 1800 Series Particulate Respirator has been uniquely designed as a flat fold respirator that allows the wearer unrivalled comfort, a better fit than traditional cup shaped respirators and a discreet low profile look. The flexible nature of the product enables clearer communication when it is being worn and is individually packaged for hygiene.

Remember- the law requires very person in a workforce to be fit tested to each individual make and model of respirator that is used.

With the introduction of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) and the supporting Approved Codes of Practice, fit testing is now a mandatory requirement. Respirators with tight fitting face pieces, including the 3M 1800 Series Particulate Respirators, require a fit test. Checking that a respirator with a tight fitting face piece is sealed closely to the wearer’s face, should be an essential part of any Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) programme.

Using Southern Syringe Service as your supply route will enable your workforce to continue to benefit from the unrivalled comfort and protection of 3M respirators.  More importantly, if you have already completed fit testing of your workforce with 3M respirators, then you do not have to allocate any further resources to re-fit testing each individual user to an alternative brand of respirator.

For more information about 3M respirators and PPE in general visit www.3m.co.uk/ohes or call the 3M Health and Safety Helpline on 0870 60 800 (UK) or 1 800 320 500 (Ireland). For Southern Syringe contact details, please visit www.southern-syringe.co.uk/contactus.htm.