Updating of health safety recommendations concerning the wearing of masks on construction sites

“As recalled in the opinion of March 24, 2020, two categories of fabric masks have been created, the performance of which is measured on the filtration capacity for particles of 3 µm. A first category offers a filtration efficiency of 90 to 95% and the second from 70 to 80%. The use of these two masks must be made in addition to the application of barrier gestures and social distancing.

In the case where certain work carried out within the framework of a professional activity prohibits the respect of the barrier gestures, and after an analysis of the position has concluded on this fact, the recommendation of use of mask is as follows.

It involves carrying loads or any type of operation requiring the work of several operators in close proximity to each other:

• Use for each worker of an alternative mask with a filtration level of 90 to 95% (exclusion of alternative masks with a filtration efficiency of 70 to 80%). If available, an FFP1 mask can also be used.
• In case of intense effort, consider changing the wearing of the alternative mask before the end of the 4 hours of use, or in case of discomfort related to wearing. In the latter case, the use of an FFP1 mask should be favored, the portability of which is the subject of tests in the standard.

In the case of work by several operators in a confined environment without ventilation, the wearing of FFP1 should be preferred. "

Consequently, the guide to health safety recommendations for the continuity of construction activities during the OPPBTP coronavirus coronavirus epidemic will be modified during the day to incorporate this new opinion.

The guide specifies, in fact, that the wearing of a respiratory protection mask is compulsory in 3 work situations:

• work within one meter of another person,
• intervention in a sick person,
• intervention in a person at risk of health.

For work situations less than a meter away and for interventions in people at risk of health, the recommended masks, previously of surgical type II-R or of superior protection, are henceforth of type for non-sanitary use of category I (filtration greater than or equal to 90% - "Individual masks for use by professionals in contact with the public" according to the note DGS / DGE / DGT of March 29, 2020, type FFP1, type surgical or superior protection).

On the other hand, for interventions in sick people, masks of surgical type II-R or superior protection remain compulsory.

Download the OPPBTP "Guide to health safety recommendations for the continuity of construction activities during a period of Covid-19 coronavirus epidemic".