SAFETY NOTICE: Comfo® Air-Purifying Respirator Cartridges

MSA recently determined that a small percentage of Comfo Combination Cartridges, manufactured from September 1, 2016 through December 11, 2016, may not comply with the NIOSH required P100 filter minimum efficiency level of 99.97% for particulates. The affected cartridges types are listed below:

Our investigation confirmed that the reduced efficiency is due to leakage caused by separation of the adhesive used to bond the P100 filter component to the cartridge body. The adhesive separation was found to occur after final production and testing. Since this condition is internal to the cartridge assembly, it is not detectable by the user during normal respirator inspections or seal checks.

As a result of this condition, MSA requests that you immediately remove from service all affected cartridges indicated above that were manufactured during the specified time period. MSA has corrected this condition and will replace affected cartridges free of charge.

Identifying Affected Cartridges:
All affected individual cartridges, six-pack cartons of cartridges, and over-pack boxes of cartridge six-packs are marked with a date code containing the two-digit week, followed by the two-digit year of manufacture. The date codes of affected cartridges range from:  “3516” through “4916” and represents the time period from September 1, 2016 through December 11, 2016. Disregard any letter that follows the four-digit code. See the photos on the attached Safety Notice for examples of date code locations.

Obtaining Replacement Cartridges and Returning Affected Cartridges:
To obtain replacement cartridges, please complete the attachedReturn/Replacement Cartridge Order Form (page three) and email it to MSA Customer Service at the appropriate email address below. Replacement cartridges will be shipped to you immediately and we will forward instructions for returning the affected cartridges.

MSA Customer Service Contact Information:
If you have any questions regarding this Safety Advisory, please contact MSA Customer Service as follows:

• U.S., Canada, or U.S. Territories – 1-866-672-0005 or email: ProductSafetyNotices@MSAsafety.com.
• Outside the U.S., Canada, and U.S. Territories – 724-776-8626 or email:  LAMZonecs@MSAnet.com.

Again, we apologize for any inconvenience that this situation may cause; however, your safety and continued satisfaction with our products is most important to us.

Best regards,

Ron Campbell

Director of Quality & Customer Experience, Americas