With the UK government adding museums, galleries, cinemas and places of worship to the list of places where face coverings should be worn in England, and given masks were made compulsory in UK shops since July 24, what protection do masks today offer in terms of safety for those wearing them in foodservices, with more front line staff feeding more and more people in the workplace?
Tracey Fairclough, Managing Director, TAF Catering Consultancy, contemplates the market, given that quality of masks is a hot topic amongst TAF’s corporate client company organisations who ask her what are the best options for catering staff having more face to face interactions with workforces?
Face Masks | The Challenge
With celebs coming out of the woodwork appearing in DIY chic, and our prime minister almost always sporting the latest disposable model, what masks on the market are the ‘best’ and why?
We conducted our own benchmark because people are still under the misconception that one size of mask fits all. It does not. Why? Because all our heads, noses, ears, chins are different shapes and sizes, so we must recognise and address the quite serious challenges for beard-wearing baristas, those with larger noses or wider jaw lines and even those with larger heads (like me).
Face Masks | The Rule
The rule of thumb is simply: a mask should cover your nose and your mouth. Recent research shows the more layers of fabric, the safer the mask in reducing gaps. Why are more layers important?
Here’s the technical bit published in the World Health Organisation WHO’s guidance document:
“According to the current evidence, COVID-19 virus is primarily transmitted between people via respiratory droplets and contact routes. Droplet transmission occurs when a person is in close contact (within 1 metre) with an infected person and exposure to potentially infective respiratory droplets occurs, for example, through coughing, sneezing or very close personal contact resulting in the inoculation of entry portals such as the mouth, nose or conjunctivae. Transmission may also occur through fomites in the immediate environment around the infected person. Therefore, transmission of the COVID-19 virus can occur directly by contact with infected people, or indirectly by contact with surfaces in the immediate environment or with objects used on or by the infected person.”
So, back to the rule, covering your nose and mouth with a mask should, whilst capturing large and small droplets and aerosol particles when we speak, sneeze or cough, prevent them from spreading.
Face Masks | The Fabrics
Now we’ve established WHY certain parts of the face need to be covered to best prevent the virus spreading, we need to familiarise ourselves with HOW certain fabrics can help or hinder the role a mask will play in protecting our lives and the lives of others. There are three primary fabric types.
- Cotton | Known for comfort and durability, being soft and breathable, cotton is the most widely produced natural fibre on the planet. It can be woven or knitted into different fabrics. Each of which produces a different feel and wear. High-quality cotton is robustly durable, making it less prone to rips or tears. It isn’t as durable as polyester or cotton/polyester blends., it can shrink when washed in high temperatures. When washing… use cold water and avoid too much detergent which affect the wear and tear of the fabric.
- Polyester | A man-made fibre made from petroleum-based products, polyester is popular in the fashion industry. It’s lightweight, silkier than cotton, traps sweat against the skin, stretches naturally to ensure comfort and doesn’t naturally shrink or lose shape. It’s more durable than cotton and most blended fabrics, less absorbent than most fabrics, can withstand lots of wear and washing, tends not to stain and is resistance to wrinkling, shrinking and fading when properly taken care of. When washing… machine wash in warm water with all-purpose detergent, followed with a tumble-dry at a low-temperature setting.
- Cotton Polyester Blends | Fabric blends mean two or more fibre types are combined to create a new fabric to improve the texture, durability, feel and even reduce costs. Today, hundreds of fabric blends are available on the market, as I discovered. The more popular blends for printed apparel are cotton-polyester blends. Cotton blended garments are more breathable compared to pure polyester products. The blends therefore create the prefect foundation for more colourful designs. When washing… Polyester doesn’t shrink or change shape like cotton does, making this blend easier to wash and dry.
Below: Cotton and Polyester – Features Compared
Face Masks | The Journey
In April, I started wearing a single use mask whilst shielding my brother whilst going shopping.
In May, I invested in a fabric “Union Jack” themed one for VE Day.
In June, a family member made me a fabric “Travel” themed one.
In July, I opted to try an alternative fabric style with “Thank You NHS” to show respect.
Finally, in August, I started wearing what I believe to be the safest, most robust mask on the market.
I invested the time in researching the ultimate mask, in reading the small print, wearing and testing, looking at disposal and sustainability, reuse and cost to be able to communicate how the best masks perform and advising my clients accordingly.
Face Masks | The Conclusion
Our benchmark demonstrates how the masks tried were ranked from first-hand experience of our trial processes for our clients.
By way of a conclusion, as the UK Economy prepares to return to work in September, consider how best to protect your colleagues and customers.
Disposal of disposable face masks eliminated this type of face mask from our future recommendations. This is a costly process and needs to follow stringent government guidelines.
We prioritise considering safety first, sustainability, reusability, comfort and cost analysis.
Masks | The Benchmark
Fashionizer Face Masks are offering all Hospitality & Catering News readers a sample mask and unique discounts. Simply complete the form below and we will pass your details on.
Tracey Fairclough has no association with Fashionizer other than being a happy customer who provided us with her research to help others in hospitality add to their own.
Workplace Foodservice Face Mask – 6 August 2020 – Workplace Foodservice Face Mask
Workplace Foodservice Face Mask – Tracey Fairclough – 6 August 2020