Teacher printing safety

Sarah MakseAlbany Advertiser
Camera IconDenmark Senior High School science teacher Steven Bergmann. Credit: Laurie Benson/Albany Advertiser, Laurie Benson

A Denmark science teacher has jumped on board a global initiative to 3D-print personal protective equipment (PPE) for local medical practices.

Denmark Senior High School’s Steven Bergmann has been printing plastic face masks and shields amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wanting to do his part to help combat the global shortage of PPE, Mr Bergmann decided to donate the masks to local doctors.

“It feels really good to be able to do something that is going to be useful,” he said.

The masks take 10 hours to print and use a removable cotton pad as a filter which is changed with each use.

The masks will be used by Denmark practices to train staff and reduce the amount of single use PPE used for non-essential procedures.

“The gear that I am printing is really just used in a last resort situation,” he said.

“I’ve since seen many other companies, universities and schools around the world also doing this.”

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails