Shimizu Deploys Mouth Shield to Construction Site Nationwide

―Works to Prevent Heatstroke During Summer While Also Combatting the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus―

  • Others

June 10, 2020

Shimizu Corporation (President: Kazuyuki Inoue) has deployed mouth shields to construction sites nationwide to mitigate the risk of heatstroke during summer while also combatting the spread of the novel coronavirus. The company will procure 31,000 mouth shields by the end of May and distribute them to job sites as the first step.

In light of the spread of the novel coronavirus, Shimizu has made mask-wearing a rule when working at job sites, along with conscientious handwashing and finger disinfection, avoidance of the three conditions (of closed spaces, crowded places, and close contact), and thorough disinfection of job sites, among other efforts. However, the company needed a way to prevent infection through droplet transmission while also preventing heatstroke, out of concern for the heightened risk of heatstroke that wearing a mask could pose in the hot and humid summer.

The mouth shield has a plastic part that attaches to the jaw. Attaching the transparent plastic film, which covers the mouth and nose, can prevent the dispersal of saliva droplets without making it hard for the person wearing it to breathe. It can be worn while wearing a helmet, so the company will have site workers and employees who are involved in construction management wear it, mainly at job sites (outdoors). Because it is possible to maintain proper physical distance while also communicating when outdoors, where people are not confined by the three conditions, a mouth shield which covers the mouth and nose will be sufficiently effective at preventing droplet transmission.

Shimizu is also procuring cooling masks along with the mouth shields and recommends wearing masks that are appropriate for the conditions at each job site in an effort to mitigate the risk of heatstroke while also preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus. We are also working to ensure the safety of employees and workers by procuring more equipment that is useful for preventing the spread of infection.

≪For Reference≫

Conditions for deployment of mouth shields at job sites

  1. Use of a mouth shield as an alternative to typical masks at job sites is conditioned upon observing strict handwashing, finger disinfection, avoidance of the three conditions, disinfection of items of shared use, and other precautionary measures.
  2. Wearing a cooling mask instead of a mouth shield is conditioned upon implementing measures to prevent heatstroke, such as taking a break every hour.

Worker wearing a mouth shield

Worker wearing a mouth shield(front)
Worker wearing a mouth shield

The information contained in this news release is the current information on the date of publication. Please be aware that this information may have changed by the time you view it. Please contact the company to inquire for further details.