COVID-19 Face Masks / PPE Q&A

During the COVID-19 crisis, our highest priority is to protect the health and safety of our
associates while serving our customers who are providing essential goods and services.
Please refer to the following question and answers regarding the use of face masks and
respirators, which are part of the collective measures we can take to prevent transmission of
COVID-19. The guidance provided below is in accordance with the latest recommendations
from the CDC and will be regularly updated.
1. What is Ecolab doing to protect associates from COVID-19?
To help protect our employees, their families and the public, we’ve established rigorous
protocols to guide decision-making as we work to serve our customers, and we have reinforced
safe practices such as proper handwashing and social distancing.
Wherever the coronavirus is an active issue, we’re requiring all employees who can work from
home to do so. Those who self-identify as high risk as defined by the Centers for Disease
Control also are required to work from home. We have clear and stringent protocols regarding
exposure to COVID-19. If an associate has had close contact with an infected person, even if
they are symptom-free, they must self-quarantine for 14 days and cannot return to work until
they are symptom-free. For additional information, reference our COVID-19 resource page on
INSIDE Ecolab.
Some employees’ jobs require them to be on-site providing essential service at a customer
location, or one of our facilities. To help protect these employees, we’re increasing the
frequency and thoroughness of our cleaning and hygiene protocols in our facilities and taking
other steps like closing certain communal areas within them. We’re working to create maximum
social separation to reduce individual and collective risk.
We’ve developed more specific safety guidance and workplans to help our field associates stay
safe while protecting our customers’ operations. This includes engaging first with their manager
and our Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) team before working in areas of high concern,
following local guidelines and customer protocols regarding the use of Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) and prohibiting travel between markets and limiting travel within markets.
Employees also can exercise their right to stop work any time they feel unsafe about work
conditions.

2. What are the latest CDC guidelines around face masks?

CDC continues to study the spread and effects of the novel coronavirus across the globe.
Recent studies show that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms
(“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”)
can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. This means that the virus can spread
between people interacting in close proximity even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms.
In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings
where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and
pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. The intended
benefit of these cloth face coverings is to reduce the chance of transmission of COVID-19 from
the wearer to others, and it works best if everyone is wearing them.
Please remember that even with the use of cloth face coverings, we still must rely on social
distancing, hand hygiene and staying home if ill to slow the spread of the virus.
3. What types of face masks are available?
The main risk of COVID-19 transmission involves close contact with someone who is infected.
To help reduce risk of transmission, there are two types of masks:
Respirators (US: N95, Europe: FFP2/FFP3, China: KN95, ANZ: P2, Korea: 1st Class, Japan:
DS)
Respirators are designed to protect the wearer from contracting COVID-19 from droplets from
an infected person. According to the CDC and WHO, respirators should only be worn by those
who have close contact with individuals who have COVID-19. N95 and regional equivalent
respirators are designed for the whole facepiece to act as a filter. Higher levels of protection,
including half and full-face cartridge respirators, may also be used to protect against COVID-19
when equipped with proper filters.
Barrier masks (surgical, dust masks, cloth masks manufactured for non-medical purposes or
cloth homemade masks)
Barrier masks are designed to protect the public from COVID-19 by preventing the wearer from
projecting droplets and infecting others. The masks do not protect the wearer from contracting
COVID-19 unless everyone else is wearing them.

4. When should I be wearing a respirator or barrier mask?

For the vast majority of employees, the best ways to help reduce the risk of infection are to
follow CDC guidance of social distancing, practice good hand hygiene, cough and sneeze
etiquette, and stay home when ill. The level of PPE required depends on the level of risk
present. Please follow the protocol below when determining the level of recommended PPE. If
local government or customer requirements are more stringent, follow them.

RISK / SCENARIO ENVIRONMENT PPE RECOMMENDATION

Low risk No – Low risk areas
(areas with no confirmed
cases of COVID-19 that allow
for social distancing)
Government / location Locations covered by
requirement government mandates
Distancing risk Customer environments that
require masks for everyone
and/or Ecolab Supply Chain
locations
Close contact risk Areas where there is a risk of
close contact (within 6 feet)
Standard safety procedures
(social distancing, frequent
handwashing, avoid touching
face, barrier mask if desired)
Additional PPE as required
by local government or
customer site
Barrier masks (surgical or
cloth)
Respirators (N95)

Close contact risk
(quarantine or confirmed /
suspected cases)
with anyone - where essential
service has been confirmed
In quarantined areas at Do not go
customer locations and/or
areas with the risk of coming
in contact with people with
COVID-19

5. Where and when can I obtain a respirator or barrier mask?

Each division or market has identified people who are responsible for quantifying needs and
managing distribution of PPE within the division or market. While respirators and barrier masks
are in high demand, our Procurement teams are working to obtain additional PPE for associates
as soon as possible.
6. What is the protocol for visiting a site where known cases of COVID-19 have been
identified?

In most cases, associates do not face increased risk when visiting a site that has had COVID-19
cases, if the site has been properly disinfected and they are not working in an area where there
are infected people. Unless associates are visiting a site that is a patient treatment area of a
hospital or long-term care facility, risk does not necessarily increase.
At this time, associates should only be providing services to customers that have been
designated as essential. It is important to communicate with customers before visiting their sites
to understand and evaluate the situation.
If the customer site has had a positive case of COVID-19, work with your customer to better
understand the actions they have taken to clean and disinfect as well as the protocols they have
in place. Work with your manager and SHE business partner to make sure you have the
information and PPE required to work safely.
You should never undertake work in a quarantine area where you expect to encounter people
known to have COVID-19.
7. What should I do if my customer needs me to visit a site, but I don’t have the proper
PPE?

If a customer asks you to visit a site but you do not currently have the correct PPE, please ask
the customer if they are able to provide the PPE.

If the customer is unable to provide the proper PPE, contact your manager to develop a plan to
either acquire the PPE or find another way to safely provide service to the customer. Do not
attempt to provide service to the customer without the proper PPE.
8. If I don’t have access to a respirator or a manufactured barrier mask, should I be
wearing a homemade mask in accordance with new CDC recommendation?

There is no homemade alternative for N95 respirators. You should Stop Work and contact your
manager if there is close contact risk requiring a respirator and one is not available.
The CDC now recommends wearing a cloth barrier mask in public spaces. If you are not in one
of the scenarios listed above that requires a respirator or do not have access to a surgical or
other manufactured mask, you may choose to make a cloth mask in accordance with the CDC
recommendation. All associates who choose to wear a non-manufactured barrier mask should
ensure that the mask is not loose or does not have potential for entanglement in equipment.
Refer to the CDC for the latest information on creating cloth masks.

9. How long can I wear a respirator or barrier mask?

N95 respirators are intended for limited use. If you work in a role that is required to have one,
Ecolab will provide information on how to properly use and care for it to maximize its
effectiveness.
Manufactured barrier masks should be disposed of as indicated by the manufacturer or when
they become wet or dirty, which often occurs after a single use. Per CDC guidelines, homemade
cloth barrier masks should be routinely washed with detergent and warm water depending on
frequency of use.
10. What are the best practices for putting on and taking off face masks?
Before using a face mask, please familiarize yourself with the CDC recommendations for putting
on and taking off PPE, including respirators and barrier masks (surgical or cloth).
Wash your hands thoroughly before putting on and taking off a respirator or barrier mask.
11. If I have a mask, do I need to continue to practice social distancing and other
measures?
If you have and are using a mask, you still need to continue to practice social distancing and
other practices outlined below. It is the collective combination of measures which keeps us safe,
not a single measure by itself. While a mask may provide additional protection to either the
wearer (respirators) or others (barrier masks), all associates should continue to practice
standard safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These practices include social
distancing (maintaining a distance of at least six feet or two meters), frequent handwashing or
hand sanitizing and avoiding touching your face, particularly with unwashed hands.