Disposable Masks or a Good Mask

AlienC on 19/10/2019 - 20:21

Started a cleaning job the organization is a bit disorganized so I am being safe and reliable and stocking up on stuff I might need to keep on my self in case the storage or cleaner closet runs out.

I got myself some disposable gloves from Woolworths deal so looking for any good masks disposable or otherwise.

Looking for any good bulk deals so far the best I have found was a 3 or 10 pack for $2.95 from Bunnings that is my best bet but as always with bulk wouldn't mind finding more cheaper like a 100 pack for starters (don't worry with the amount of other work my household likes doing we will use them wisely).

That is about it for now.

Funny enough my glasses work as both prescription glasses and ppe or safety wear for now so I think I am good on that.

But yeah any other fellow cleaners or tradesman or whatever know any good deals on bulk disposable masks or even non disposable (I am fine with washing them or laundering to maximize longevity and reduce landfill waste.. This is ozbargain / climate change capital after all (ok maybe bad joke) but yeah anything beats 10 disposable dust masks for $2.95 or 30 cents a mask?

Find Me A Bargain

Comments

  • brendanm on 19/10/2019 - 20:51
    +4

    Get your employer to supply these things. No way I'd be supplying my own gloves and face masks for work.

    • AlienC on 20/10/2019 - 01:38

      Had my first shift recently and it was very unorganized we were not provided gloves and maybe a mask halfway through.

      So yeah not gonna chance it this my backup plan for my own health and safety.. better safe than sorry.

      They will probably do all the safety stuff eventually and tell me where stuff is but until then I am taking care of myself until I see it.

      Worse case scenario I have some extra cleaning materials for home which I am happy to pay a little bit of money for.. saves me time later.

      Kind of like investing in my own first aid kit that I am gonna keep in my own bag for my own personal use and if anybody needs it.

      They probably have one somewhere but my experience with my new co workers was so bad I am resorting to this had a few minor injuries first day was told to just walk it off so yeah I am covering my self because I feel like these guys don't do that.

      Thankfully I will be moving around to other sites with other people so my mileage will vary but yeah bad experiences foster good proper future preventative measures.

  • whooah1979 on 19/10/2019 - 22:36
    +1

    Get p2 foldable mask with vents for better fit and safety glass visibility.

    • AlienC on 20/10/2019 - 01:40

      Thanks noted.

      When would p1 be ok in investing or what use case scenarios I think we only require a mask for cleaning with chemicals, using a blower and dusting surfaces.

      Not 100% sure if there are other examples but those three definitely I think we need a safety mask.

  • apsilon on 20/10/2019 - 06:11
    +2

    You need to provide more details on what you're cleaning. Houses, chemical tanks, crime scenes? The mask required for each is very different. What chemicals are you using or exposed to? Are you just worried about household dust or a certain particulate?

    • AlienC on 20/10/2019 - 19:54

      Just schools mainly like toilets and hallways nothing major like a crime scene (fingers crossed) or chemical tanks (thank you jesus).

      Not sure yet what chemicals but I probably whatever you use to clean bathrooms and toilets.

      • apsilon on 23/10/2019 - 06:16

        OK, so there's two things you're most likely to encounter - dust/particulate and vapour. In a school I doubt any of the particulate is going to be hazardous so I'd suggest a P2 for this (P1 you may as well just tie a bandanna around your face so it covers your nose and mouth) as the amount of dust and lack of hazard means P3 is overkill.

        The real question here is the type of vapours you need to protect yourself from and that's going to come down to the specific cleaning products being used. You're going to have to do some research yourself into what you're using and then look for a respirator filter guide to determine the correct filter to use.

        You can get filters that cover a wide range of vapours along with particulate and this is generally the way to go but you won't find these in disposable masks. You need to look at a half face respirator (at least) with replaceable cartridges. I doubt the other cleaners will be using anything but it's up to you to protect yourself so something that filters P2 particulate, organic, chlorine and ammonia vapours I imagine would cover any cleaning product you're likely to use along with dust.

        • AlienC on 23/10/2019 - 13:13

          Honestly I think the biggest worry is the dust too much of it gets annoying and you start to cough up a bit.

          The chemical vapours should be fine but still yet to see.

          I think there is a floor cleaner, toilet bowl and urinal cleaner, floor stripper and the least of my worries the multi surface and window cleaner.

          I think all those different cleaners which have different amounts of water to cleaner liquid reason cover most of it if not all.

          Oh yeah there are some special ones like no vomit and graffiti cleaner / remover and probably a few others I can't think of at the moment.

  • GangGang on 20/10/2019 - 07:54

    Disposable dust masks are just for that, not vapour or gas. What are you using it for? You will need to buy a half face mask with filters.

    Buying the cheap products from Bunnings are useless. I've seen the dust mask that has only one strap, it's useless.

    • AlienC on 20/10/2019 - 20:00

      That is right I remember this now.

      Yeah well for example blower duties dust mask will suffice but when I eventually get brought up to say using strong chemicals for mopping bathrooms and other areas then the proper face mask with filter will need to be used and applied.

  • Jade81 on 20/10/2019 - 10:46

    I agree, more info needed and better safe than sorry.
    Look up in your states WHS guidelines the grade mask for what you're dealing with and then post that for comment.

    Keep your receipts and records of dates used for tax and to cover your butt.

    And if that ridiculous disorganization for safety goes on for more than 1 week (which it probably will since walk it off is not the correct advice) start looking for a new job ASAP

    • AlienC on 20/10/2019 - 19:56

      First job in a long time so I am in the category of "I will probably put up with it because it is better than going on the limbo search that is the job hunt".

      Honestly am excited to be working "again" (my past job history is honestly not much too embarrassed to even say it because people on the internet can connect dots etc)

  • DemocracyManifest on 20/10/2019 - 11:03

    Get voted as the health and safety rep, if they get a inspection in the meantime by workcover etc they will be in the shit. As a health and safety rep you can issue binding demands on issues that need to be rectified. In saying that I work for a BIG retail chain and there is almost no cleaning or safety equipment, the company jumps up and down about expenditure then spend big $$$ on safety campaigns telling everyone to be safe, and regardless do not issue standard kits in bulk etc

    • AlienC on 20/10/2019 - 19:59
      +1

      You know what that would be the honest to god perfect job for me.

      Being as neurotic and double checking and super paranoid that I am anything that requires me to lookout for details and tick off check boxes is a perfect job for me and honestly I can deal with bureaucracy and thousands of paper work honestly that is heaven to me compared to playing with fire and health and safety gaps on the front line.

      I would be better suited to making sure each site is safe and meets standards and regulations but ah well I have to switch my mindset to being a drone for now and just making sure I get the job done within the given time frame limit etc.

      I just hope I don't get too sick in the process besides the physical exhaustion.

      • DemocracyManifest on 22/10/2019 - 07:57

        Contact your relevant union for help with this as well, probably United Voice

        • AlienC on 22/10/2019 - 23:01

          I would but last thing I would want is to have something potentially backfire and me lose my job or somebody else I have become friends with.

          I will think about it but maybe they are still just seeing how I do things before they maybe give me more training in all aspects because for now I am kinda winging it fully like no one has really taught me how to do anything besides maybe a few safety protocols but definitely not all.

          It could be a slow or long process which is good and nice for total newbies it just sucks because I really want to learn some professional cleaning skills and tricks and techniques from this job.

          Watching my co-workers have given me little insight and maybe a few tips but nothing major yet.

          Actually the veteran cleaner who I am supposed to be working with who I am covering for now is away on vacation or another country but I hear he pretty much does everything and is main head in charge of the school I work in currently so will be great to get to know his techniques and tricks with all duties as I feel like the longer I am stuck guessing the higher the chance is I might make a kid or teacher sick or something and I really don't want that for many reasons.

          Feels really good having so much power kinda and responsibility to kind of protect and keep the areas that adults and children go to school in.

          Huge self worth increase kinda and it is honestly nice being recognised by humans for once I have noticed since I started this job society has kind of like reembraced me and I am not a total snake now on the radar.

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