# "Sneeze guards" on dim sum waitresses? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 21, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-guards-on-dim-sum-waitresses/784944 "2017-04-21T20:42:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-guards-on-dim-sum-waitresses/784944/1 "2017-04-21T20:42:30Z")
Last Sunday we went for dim sum at a new place. The waitresses (all female) who took orders and delivered food were wearing these strange facemasks hung by loops from their ears. The loops supported a clear plastic shield that projected about two inches from the chin, at an angle slightly above horizontal. What were these? Sneeze/germ guards seem most likely, but the amount of plastic shield and its placement wouldn’t prevent germs from getting on the food. Also, the bus staff (all men) who delivered water and tea and cleared plates didn’t have them–and they are very nearly as likely to “contaminate” the food. What’s the story? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-guards-on-dim-sum-waitresses/784944/2 "2017-04-21T20:57:14Z")
I’d wonder about a fad, maybe anime-driven. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-guards-on-dim-sum-waitresses/784944/3 "2017-04-21T21:21:29Z")
[Something like this?](http://zidbits.com/2011/12/why-is-common-to-see-people-wearing-surgical-masks-in-asian-countries/) As the website says, it’s fairly common for people in East Asian to wear a facemask when they have a cold in an attempt to avoid spreading it. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-guards-on-dim-sum-waitresses/784944/4 "2017-04-21T22:08:42Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > [Something like this?](http://zidbits.com/2011/12/why-is-common-to-see-people-wearing-surgical-masks-in-asian-countries/) As the website says, it’s fairly common for people in East Asian to wear a facemask when they have a cold in an attempt to avoid spreading it. From the OP: “The loops supported a clear plastic shield…” ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-guards-on-dim-sum-waitresses/784944/5 "2017-04-21T22:18:38Z")
Nope, not a cloth mask. Imagine this: [http://www.unimedcorp.com/PPE/Images/sslitegirlLG.jpg](http://www.unimedcorp.com/PPE/Images/sslitegirlLG.jpg) only with a very short clear piece of shield that sticks out from the chin, rather than hanging down over the face. Plus ear loops. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-guards-on-dim-sum-waitresses/784944/6 "2017-04-21T22:41:29Z")
Did it look anything like one of these? [Transparent sanitary face guards](https://www.google.ca/search?q=restaurant+face+guard&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi9u-WUz7bTAhXm3YMKHRayDMwQ_AUICCgB&biw=1044&bih=539) ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-guards-on-dim-sum-waitresses/784944/7 "2017-04-21T22:53:27Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > Did it look anything like one of these? > > [Transparent sanitary face guards](https://www.google.ca/search?q=restaurant+face+guard&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi9u-WUz7bTAhXm3YMKHRayDMwQ_AUICCgB&biw=1044&bih=539) It did! And as pictured, the clear plastic part is covering the mouth and nose. The waitresses must have jiggered them around though, so that the “guard” part was more horizontal and therefore not doing the job it’s supposed to. It’s like putting on a surgical mask and then pulling it down so that your chin is covered but mouth and nose exposed. ---
**Author:** ![SigMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-guards-on-dim-sum-waitresses/784944/8 "2017-04-21T23:16:23Z")
Apparently for sanitation in restaurants. Amazon sells them. [https://www.amazon.com/Restaurant-Transparent-Processing-Waitress-Attendant/dp/B00JSBT422](https://www.amazon.com/Restaurant-Transparent-Processing-Waitress-Attendant/dp/B00JSBT422) ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-guards-on-dim-sum-waitresses/784944/9 "2017-04-22T07:34:26Z")
I get the theory. What I don’t get is the practice. Also, the discrimination between the (notionally) protected waitresses and the non-protected bus staff. Also, I’ve never seen this type of mask deployed at all before–is it a new thing ot just new to me? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-guards-on-dim-sum-waitresses/784944/10 "2017-04-22T12:15:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Also, the discrimination between the (notionally) protected waitresses and the non-protected bus staff. Waitstaff talk (and thus open their mouths) more than bussers do. Have you ever been talking to someone when one of your salivary glands took the opportunity to spray straight out of your open mouth? I think that’s the primary thing these are supposed to protect against. Plus, bussers mostly come around after you’re done eating, and it doesn’t matter if an emptied plate gets contaminated. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-guards-on-dim-sum-waitresses/784944/11 "2017-04-22T12:45:18Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > I get the theory. What I don’t get is the practice. > > Also, the discrimination between the (notionally) protected waitresses and the non-protected bus staff. If I am reading the OP right, these were not traditional waitresses, but dim sum servers. With dim sum, the server is constantly hovering over the cart full of food. It is like a buffet that comes to your table. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-guards-on-dim-sum-waitresses/784944/12 "2017-04-22T13:05:13Z")
I get that it might stop the spread of germs and therefor a good idea but it doesn’t sound like it would be very appetizing to constantly being reminded of stray spittle while I was eating. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-guards-on-dim-sum-waitresses/784944/13 "2017-04-22T17:52:45Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > If I am reading the OP right, these were not traditional waitresses, but dim sum servers. With dim sum, the server is constantly hovering over the cart full of food. It is like a buffet that comes to your table. At this dim sum place, you placed your order and waitresses brought them to the table, no carts. But I don’t think that makes a difference. I’ve never seen these guards, worn correctly or not, at any other restaurant of any type. Also, the bus staff did replenish drinks, so they have some contact with consumables. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-guards-on-dim-sum-waitresses/784944/14 "2017-04-22T22:58:09Z")
Seems to me it’s more a PR gesture than anything – makes some customers feel better. Especially, if, as the OP says, they weren’t wearing them properly. Food is far more likely to be contaminated inside the kitchen, and I very much doubt that the cooks were wearing such masks. Seems like it would interfere with their cooking tasks. Cooks very rarely wear laytex gloves while working, for example.