Safety masks are a serious part of any job where a worker might come into contact with any harmful chemicals, debris or air particulates. Ideas about safety have changed over the years, and safety masks play more roles than they used to in a variety of industries.

As companies get more safety conscious, it's also become easier to get bulk safety masks online from vendors. Business managers sometimes have to compete against a "culture of laxity" in regards to industrial and chemical safety masks, but in many cases, workers are grateful for the extra protection. Business operators offer safety masks to workers in situations including the following:

1. Jobs in construction, renovation or demolition environments where harmful airborne elements like fiberglass, asbestos and excessive mold or dust may be present and industrial safety masks can filter them out;

2. Jobs where chemical safety masks can help workers deal with dangerous chemicals;

3. Jobs in medical situations where a safety mask can prevent the transfer of germs and viruses from a patient to care staff.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get disposable safety masks

In some situations, a simple disposable protective mask will do the job. Many disposable safety masks also offer protection from airborne elements like SARS or flu germs. Simple dust masks are also sometimes useful for outdoor work.

I recommend: 3M's N95 safety mask is effective in filtering out germs as well as allergens. Masks like this are available on product sites like NexTag for bulk buys and pricing. More disposable protective mask types are online at Washington Trade International Inc.

Get full safety mask models with HEPA filters and protective gear

For many construction or renovation environments, a simple cotton industrial safety mask isn't enough. Sadly, in the past, this was often overlooked, leading to serious health problems among workers. New HEPA filter technology gives a respirator mask more power to protect workers' lungs from harmful elements like asbestos and lead.

I recommend: Industrial safety mask models equipped with HEPA filters are for sale at INTERSAFE along with a variety of safety solutions for businesses. Find other similar protective face mask models at PK Safety Supply.

Find respiratory safety mask consulting

Too many times, as a business manager, you don't know what workers need. It's hard to be sure that any solution is sufficiently effective without a lot of research. Occupation consulting for respiratory safety will close the knowledge gap. Consultants can pinpoint the needs of your staff to avoid serious problems in the field.

I recommend: Get a comprehensive list of occupational respiratory safety consultants at Dmoz. Midwest Consulting is an example of a company that offers a range of consulting to businesses for maximum job safety.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Among the many issues you might be dealing with as a manager, respiratory safety should not be the one you slack on. It's no good having safety masks and solutions if workers don't get on board. Inform your staff and be relentless about safety. It's for the good of your most important asset: your people.