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July 27, 2020
2 min read

OPG employees use 3D printers to help keep masks secure for frontline workers

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Connor Chan knew he couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.

Two OPG employees used their 3D printers to produce hundreds of mask clips for frontline health-care workers.
Two OPG employees used their 3D printers to produce hundreds of mask clips for frontline workers.

The Assistant Technical Engineer with Laurentis Energy Partners, a subsidiary of OPG, felt a particular urge to offer assistance as his mother is a nurse. He remembers how life was for their family during the SARS crisis in 2003.

That’s when he and another Laurentis employee came up with the idea to use their own 3D printers to produce surgical mask clips for frontline health-care workers. Using their personal time and resources, the two endeavouring employees have combined to create more than 200 clips over a span of seven weeks.

The adjustable plastic mask clips help maintain the correct positioning of masks for workers, drastically reducing the need to adjust important personal protective equipment while working in the field and the chance of exposure.

“I remember how everything was like when my mom would come home from work when the SARS outbreak happened. Creating medical clips for my mom to wear at work was the least thing I could do.”
Connor Chan, Assistant Technical Engineer with Laurentis Energy Partners

After printing the clips, Chan and his colleague handed them directly to nurses and friends working in the medical field.

OPG's Connor Chan was motivated to help frontline health-care workers.
OPG's Connor Chan was motivated to help frontline health-care workers.

In addition, the two donated a batch of clips to support Bruce Power workers executing a recent inspection campaign at the Bruce nuclear station in Kincardine. There was a serious need for the clips as workers were dealing with masks falling off during work, said Warner Anderson, Field Operations Manager with Laurentis.

“These are great guys who have stepped up to support their local communities,” said Anderson. “They are true team players.”

OPG’s own 3D printers have been humming during the pandemic to produce thousands of plastic face shields. To date, the company has donated 22,000 of its 3D-printed shields to help protect frontline health-care workers and essential service workers caring for infected patients.

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