Suspected fake PPE fails safety checks

Tuesday 23 June 2020

Local shops have been ordered to stop selling ‘KN95’ face masks after it emerged many were likely to be fake versions of medical-grade PPE.

Following a UK safety alert, Jersey’s Health and Safety Inspectorate (HSI) seized several of the masks from local retailers, going on to conduct tests on them.

But, to date, not a single mask bearing the ‘KN95’ name has passed HSI's safety checks. 

This is despite some carrying the recognised European safety mark ‘CE’.

It is now believed the mark may not be genuine.

Pictured: KN95 masks are usually only used in a medical environment, as they are high-level PPE.

KN95 masks are normally only employed in the medical and construction sectors, but have soared in popularity as growing numbers of people seek to protect themselves from covid-19 transmission, as the covering provides a high level of protection against airborne particles.

However, with this demand, a number of fake stocks of PPE have begun to circulate globally.

HSI began contacting local retailers after the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that many masks claiming to be KN95 standard were not providing adequate levels of protection and were likely to be poor quality fakes.

Officials said there was immediate cooperation from all local retailers concerned, but that it suspected that some masks of this type are still on sale in the island. 

They are therefore urging anyone with stocks of such masks to withdraw them from sale and get in contact with them, while also urging islanders not to use any if they have bought them.

Pictured: The Deputy Medical Officer for Health Dr Ivan Muscat has advised islanders to wear cloth masks, rather than medical-grade PPE.

Tammy Fage, Director of Health and Safety, explained: “As soon as we became aware of the Safety Alert issued by the UK HSE, we commenced our own investigation and have collected samples of various KN95 masks from different businesses. In all cases of the masks analysed to date, we have been unable to demonstrate compliance with the necessary safety assessments to be used as proper PPE. 

“Although some of these have a CE marking on the mask, initial enquires are highly suggestive that this mark may not be genuine, although enquiries continue.

She continued: “The affected face masks are sold under a range of brand names. However, they will be labelled KN95 on the packaging, or on each individual mask. Any islander who has bought KN95 face masks is advised not to use them. Any retailer selling the KN95 that has not been contacted by the HSI, must remove all stock of the masks from sale immediately and asked to contact us at the Health and Safety Inspectorate using the workplacecovid@gov.je mailbox.” 

Asked by Express whether the Health Department had been affected by the safety warning, a Health Department spokesperson assured: "On June 17, we were advised by the Health and Safety Inspectorate of concerns regarding KN95 face masks, which were being sold on island via multiple retailers.

"The Government of Jersey PPE cell checked our stock and confirmed that we do not have any of these items."

Currently, wearing a cloth face mask or another face covering is not compulsory, but strongly advised by the government. Medical-grade PPE is not recommended, however.