Worried about the prospect of health services running out of personal protective equipment (PPE), a WA high school teacher has begun 3D-printing face masks.
Over his two-week term break, Denmark High School science teacher Steve Bergman designed a number of mask prototypes.
He said the most practical so far was a face-shield-type mask that was simpler and cheaper to produce.
"It's basically just a plastic frame with an A4-laminated sheet," he said.
Other designs include a heavy-duty plastic mask with a removable filter, which is able to be washed in bleach and reused.
Mr Bergman said even though they were not surgical-grade, they were a "better-than-nothing" option if stock ran low.
"This was just an idea to help out, and it turns out they have been used at Denmark Hospital for training, so they don't have to use up their single-use face masks," he said.
Mr Bergman's experiments have not stopped at face masks. He has also designed a hands-free door opener, something he thinks could be used at schools.
"We have the equipment here at school and I really just wanted to help out," he said.
"I didn't want to see doctors and nurses resorting to cloth masks."
