July/August 2020

with those hard of hearing at the moment, people need to be patient and aware that hearing issues is not a necessarily visible disability. Deaf-friendly face masks One solution to this problem comes in the form of see-through masks, which means the wearer can stay protected, but allows people to see their lips to make communication easier. Although these masks are not as common or widespread, they are available to purchase online and the demand for them has been increasing. Sonia Carley in Salisbury, quit her engineering job to help out with the Covid-19 pandemic and has made 10,000 face masks with a see- through panel with plans to keep manufacturing them as demand grows Currently there are no UK approved manufacturers for clear masks for hospitals, but there has been a growing campaign to get deaf-friendly PPE for healthcare workers. “Clear masks need to become more available and become the norm because everyone deserves the right to understand what people are trying to communicate to them, especially when it comes to their health,” says Hall. But if clear face masks are not available, the best practice is to be aware that people might have difficulties and stay patient if they are struggling to hear, which may mean repeating words or using gestures to aid understanding. Hall added: “At the end of the day, the pandemic has changed all of our lives and made everyday tasks harder, so we need to be as patient as we can to help each other get through it.” hearing, the danger is that they may be missing important safety information, particularly as they venture out during the pandemic. With many workplaces asking their staff to wear a face covering, Hall says there needs to be more understanding about how to communicate Health & Safety: PPE SPECIAL FOCUS Join us on Facebook Plant &Works Engineering Follow us on LinkedIn Plant &Works Engineering Followus on Twitter @PWEmagazine1 @PlantAssetMgt For the latest news visit the PWE website www.pwemag.co.uk Find out the latest on Plant &Asset Management 2021 www.maintenanceuk-expo.com PWE Plant & Works Engineering Plant & Asset Management 2021