PPE recommendations and tools

• Patients with suspected and/or confirmed COVID-19 disease require Contact and Droplet precautions to be used
  

• Use a medical mask along with eye protection (face shield, safety glasses or goggles), gloves and gown when taking nasopharyngeal and throat swabs. 
  
  
• Use a N95 respirator or equivalent with gown, gloves and eye protection (face shield or goggles) when performing aerosol generating medical procedures (AGMP) on patients suspected (patients with COVID-19 risk) or confirmed to have COVID-19.  
  
  
• Download Aerosol Generating Medical Procedures (AGMP) sign- June 17, 2021

• The Personal Protective Equipment: Additional Precautions Infection Prevention and Control Audit Tool is intended for health authorities’ trained auditors and site administrators, with experience using personal protective equipment (PPE), to help them assess health care worker competency and compliance with PPE donning and doffing procedures when providing care to patients on additional precautions. 

• Appropriate Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for VRI in Health-care Settings poster
  

• Provincial Support for Using Reusable Gowns for Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) This information is provided by the COVID-19 Provincial IPAC and Workplace Health and Safety Working Group, a collaborative with the Provincial Infection Control Network (PICNet), the Ministry of Health, health authorities and other healthcare representatives brought together to coordinate a provincial response to COVID-19.

Masks, respirators and eye and facial protection

• How to Wear a Medical Mask poster for instructions on how to put on and remove a surgical mask.
  
  
• The Eye Protection Selection Fit Tool is a resource for health care workers to assess, select and properly fit eye protection PPE options including face shield, safety goggles, visor attached to mask and safety glasses -
  
  
• Prescription Eye Protection Selection Requirements - This tool can be used to ensure that your prescription eye protection meets health and safety standards with respect to fit and required protection
  
  
• Cleaning and disinfection instructions for eye and facial protection provides information for resuable goggles, safety glasses and face shields without foam. 
  
  
• Elastomeric half-face respirators (EHFR):
• Guidance Elastomeric Half Face Respirator Source Control in Pre-Hospital and Health-Care Settings: Guidance or the use and source control of reusable EHFR with an unfiltered valve.
  
• Instructions for fitting Elastomeric Half Face Respirator that does not have an exhalation valve filter: Poster with instructions on how to wear and apply a medical mask over the EHFR unfiltered valve.
  
• Learn how to safely reprocess reusable elastomeric respirators.   
  
  
• Respiratory Protection Options for Operating Room Settings: N95s, Powered Air Purifying Respirators and Elastomeric Half-Face Respirators - new January 18, 2022
• This document evaluates appropriate respiratory protection options for use in the OR setting, including considerations for the use of reusable elastomeric half-face respirators (EHFRs) and powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) while working in the sterile field and for source control.
  
  
• The continuous, extended and repetitive use of PPE, including masks, gloves and safety glasses/goggles may cause adverse skin reactions. Learn how to prevent and manage PPE-related skin damage.
  
  
• Position Statement: Double Masking and Masking Recommendations for Medical Masks in Health Care Settings - March 19, 2021
  
  

Donning and doffing

Steps for putting on (donning) personal protective equipment

• Download the 5 steps to don (put on) personal protective equipment (PPE) poster (PDF).
  
• AGMP list
  

Steps for taking off (doffing) personal protective equipment for droplet and contact precautions

• Download doffing poster (droplet and contact precautions)
  

Steps for taking off (doffing) personal protective equipment for airborne precautions (includes AGMP)

• Download doffing poster (airborne precautions [AGMP])

Use of a Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR)