Commodore Helps Hospitals Fit Test Face Masks

Commodore Design has donated equipment to a local hospital to help check face masks are fitted correctly during the Covid-19 crisis.

The contract kitchen specialist has provided face-fit test kits to key workers at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.  

Fit testing is advised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to ensure that respiratory protective equipment (RPE) provides suitable protection for the wearer. It checks that a facepiece matches the wearer’s facial features and seals adequately to their face.

The donation follows concerns from a midwife at the hospital who is also the daughter of Commodore Design’s Special Projects Manager, Stephen Johnson.

He said: “My daughter explained that there are national supply challenges with face fit tests at the moment, specially the aerosol used to check the wearer’s sense of taste during the test, which helps to identify leaks.

“I realised that we use the same equipment to check RPE correctly fits our installers working on construction sites.  As many of our tradespeople aren’t on site at the moment, we’ve donated all of our test kits to Broomfield Hospital.

“I’m sure there will be other construction firms in a similar position who could donate these kits, but just don’t realise it. If we work together to spread the message, this could make a big difference to local hospitals and help to keep our key workers safe.”