Face Coverings

Staff/Faculty: N95 Respirator as Face Covering

An N95 respirator can be worn voluntarily by faculty and staff, regardless of vaccination status. These are available at no cost to the individual or department.

A request for an N95 respirator must be submitted by each individual who will be using the item. Please use the N95 for Voluntary Use form to submit a request.

Putting on a face covering

• Avoid touching the front of the face covering once it's on.
• Wash hands or use hand sanitizer prior to handling the face covering.
• Ensure the face-covering fits over the nose and under the chin.
• Situate the face-covering properly with nose wire snug against the nose (where applicable).
• Tie straps behind the head and neck or loop around the ears.

Taking off a face covering

• Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth when removing the face covering.
• When taking off the face covering, loop your finger into the strap and pull the strap away from the ear, or untie the straps.
• Wash hands or use hand sanitizer immediately after removing.

Care, storage and laundering

• Keep face coverings stored in a paper bag when not in use.
• Face coverings should be replaced immediately if soiled, damaged (e.g. ripped, punctured) or visibly contaminated.
• Disposable face coverings must not be used for more than one day and should be placed in the trash after you return home for the day or if it is soiled, damaged (e.g., stretched ear loops, torn or punctured material) or visibly contaminated.

Approved Face Coverings

Face Covering Design	Picture	Description
Disposable surgical or medical grade mask		Manufactured non-woven material 3-ply filter with elastic loops that cover nose and mouth.
Disposable KF94		Manufactured non-woven material 4-ply filter with elastic loops that cover nose and mouth. KF94s are designed to meet Korean standards. These are not available through the COVID Supply Store but may be worn on campus.
Disposable KN95		Manufactured non-woven material 5-ply filter with elastic loops that cover nose and mouth. KN95s are designed to meet Chinese standards.
Disposable N95		Manufactured non-woven material 3-ply filter with elastic head straps. Filter efficiency of 95% or greater against solid and liquid aerosols free of oil. N95s are certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and meet U.S. standards. These are unavailable through the COVID Supply Store and must be requested through the N95 Voluntary Use Form.
Face Shield with a drape		Clear plastic face shield with a drape long enough to tuck into the front of a shirt. These are an available accommodation and can be requested by submitting a Request for Reasonable Accommodation.

Exemptions for Wearing Face Coverings

The following individuals are exempt from wearing face coverings at all times:

• Children under two years old, due to the risk of suffocation
• People with:
  • A medical condition,
  • Mental health condition, or
  • A disability that precludes wearing a face covering. This includes:
    • Those for whom a face covering could obstruct breathing
    • Who are unconscious or incapacitated
    • Unable to remove a face covering without help
• People for whom seeing the mouth is essential for communication:
  • Hearing impaired, or
  • Those communicating with a person who is hearing impaired
• People for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk as they work, as determined by:
  • Local, state, or federal regulators, or
  • Workplace safety guidelines