On Jan 14, 2021, at 1:50 PM, John Callen <jbcallen**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM> wrote:

Monona, Peter, Rob and ALL,

At 3M we have always taken a very conservative approach to Voluntary Use of Respirators and advised customers to go through formal medical evaluation, training and fit-testing regardless as to whether or not respirator use is required (internally or by law) or voluntary.

Peter, you are correct regarding Medical Evaluation for Elastomeric Facepiece Respirators.

Monona, only if the Big Bad Wolf passed his PFT!

Rob gives you a terrific glimpse into his experiences with the N95's.  My analogy to ear-looped face masks or standard surgical masks and respiratory protection has been like manufacturing submarines with screen doors and hatches.  

Although the demand is still far greater than the supply, USA healthcare institutions as well as buying consortia and associations are learning by "baptism by fire" and again something that they forgot when they went through TB, SARs, MERs, H1N1/5, is how to effectively and efficiently order, stockpile and manage inventory.  3M is making good their commitment to produce 2B N95s in 2021 running 24/7/365 with a 30% increase in factory size and over 330% increase in annual output.  Other US manufacturers including but not limited to Honeywell (Charlotte, NC) and Protective Health Gear (Paterson, NJ) and US distributors with their private label N95's made in Asia are helping to reduce the strain.

You must realize that N95=E2=80™s are only one part of the equation as it relates to PPE, source control, decontamination, etc.  There is a global shortage of raw materials to make wipes (not the chemicals, but rather the wipe itself plus canisters or other packaging), nitrile glove and gowns.  This is compounded by the whole logistics nightmare regarding the shortage of containers, chassises (base frame of a truck which the container sits on), sky-rocketing transportation and labor costs, and the shortage of personnel to do internal or 3rd-party inspections of goods.  Also, importers are now searching for alternate ports-of-entry (e.g., Norfolk, Tampa, Mobile & New Orleans, San diego and Portland & Seattle) since the NY/NJ Ports of Red Hood/Brooklyn and Elizabeth, NJ, Galveston, TX and Long Beach/LA, CA are jammed-up.

With all of that, the demand now for needles and syringes is starting to mount with the administration of the Pfizer, Moderna and soon to be J&J vaccines.

Finally,  =E6=81=AD=E7=A6=A7=E7™=BC=E8=B2=A1 (simplified =E6=81=AD=E7=A6=A7=E5=8F=91=E8=B4=A2, pinyin spelling g=C5=8Dng x=C7=90 f=C4=81 c=C3=A1i).  Happy Chinese New Year, the Year of the Ox which is February 12, 2021!  Just remember that China and many part of Asia are closed down for the week's holiday (February 11 - 17, 2021).  That will affect manufacturing output and shipment of goods which may overlap by a week or more on either side of the holiday!

Be Safe and Stay Healthy!

All My Best,

John B. Callen, Ph.D.

3M Personal Safety Division - Retired

ACS/DCHAS Founding Member

(312) 632-0195