FFP3 mask testing: FOI release

Information requested

Background: I refer to this document dated 26 March 2020 : Keeping healthcare workers safe - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) which relates to 1.5 million FFP respirators being brought back into use and issued to healthcare workers despite having passed their expiry date. You refer to the “stringent independent tests” which had shown that they were safe to use. I understand that such tests were commissioned either by the Scottish Government and/or Public Health England.

There are 3 elements to my FoI request:

1) Please would you be so good as to provide the documents which were relied upon to form the conclusion that they were safe. These should confirm:
Whether the laboratory/laboratories which conducted the tests were UKAS-accredited for this type of testing; The actual number of respirators tested and how it was ensured that the sample was representative across the 1.5 million respirators concerned; That the test methods set out in EN 149:2001+A1:2009 were used or, if not, precisely what test methodology was used.

2) Please would you also confirm the full range of manufacturers involved (e.g. 3M, others?) and provide me with copies of any correspondence that you had with those manufacturers (as the experts in their products) about the continuation of use beyond the expiry date.

3) Please would you provide copies of any correspondence that you had with the HSE concerning the continuation of use beyond the expiry date. I note that you quote HSE advice that “users of FFP respirators to visually inspect the equipment to check the integrity of foam seals, straps, valves and nose clips”. Please would you provide a copy of the document containing this text.

Response

I attach a copy of all of the information you requested.

You provided a broken weblink in your request but I am aware that the correct link is as follows: Keeping healthcare workers safe - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

On part 1 of your question, I attach a copy of the test report regarding the FFP3 respirators you refer to and which provides all the information requested.

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to a small amount of the information requested (on page 1 of the report) because it is personal data of a third party and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.

On part 2 of your question, I can confirm that only 3M FFP3 respirators were included in this testing and that the Scottish Government did not have any communication with that company regarding the continuation of use beyond the expiry date.

On part 3 of your question, I can confirm that the Scottish Government did not have any direct correspondence with the Health & Safety Executive concerning the continuation of use beyond the expiry date. Public Health England liaised with HSE on behalf of the 4 UK administrations.

The advice regarding the use of respirators is in line with general guidance provided by HSE on the use of respiratory protective equipment: Respiratory protective equipment at work: A practical guide HSG53 (hse.gov.uk)

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202300347467 - Information Released - Report

File type

32 page PDF

File size

1.6 MB