MSA, a developer, manufacturer and supplier of safety products, has stepped up the production of air-purifying respirator (APR) line at its US factories in Jacksonville, North Carolina and Murrysville, Pennsylvania, in response to Japanese requests for increased shipments of respirators.
MSA is increasing the production of respirators to help protect Japanese cleanup workers and health officials involved with the tsunami-damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant.
The company is producing different types of respirators equipped with filter cartridges.
The respirators, which include half-mask and full-facepiece models, provide respiratory protection against a broad range of airborne hazards like radiological particles and vapors.
MSA president and CEO William Lambert said while they are seeing a short-term increase in demand for respirators, the demand for other safety products in Japan is reduced, as fewer people are working due to multiple infrastructure challenges in the region.