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Filtering or powered respirators, self-contained breathing apparatus, emergency escape breathing devices, self-rescuers plus much more… These are respiratory protective gear! Now you ask ,: when the use of them, and most importantly, how will you select the right equipment to offer you maximum protection?

Here’s a good practice self-help guide to assist you to pick the best type of respiratory protection.

When do you need to use respiratory protection?

Prior to making the wearing of respiratory protective clothing (RPE) mandatory, it is important to implement other prevention solutions including finding substitutes for hazardous substances or installing air purification techniques (closing off processes, trapping pollutants, ventilating the premises, etc.). If not possible to put these measures set up, or maybe they are insufficient, you will have to provide respiratory protective gear.

Respiratory protective gear is utilized:

If you have a threat a person’s health will be altered because of inhaling air which is polluted by gases, vapours, dust and aerosols or by oxygen-depleted air in the workplace;

When intervening to tackle a hearth or gas leak, as well as in closed spaces the location where the atmosphere may become dangerous because of inhalation;

In closed areas with the insufficient oxygen supply (contaminated areas).

There are lots of varieties of respiratory protective clothing ideal for each situation and specific field. They work by placing a physical barrier involving the polluted atmosphere in the office as well as the worker’s face (respiratory system, eyes, skin). They are classed as Personal Protective gear, therefore it is important to make the right substitute for be sure you are thoroughly protected.

Perform an examination of the workstation

You should define the circumstances of usage beforehand:

Oxygen level

Sort of pollutants (gas, vapours, dust, etc.)

Toxicity in the pollutants

Worst-case-scenario concentrations of each kind of pollutant in the air

Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs), if appropriate

Size of the particles regarding aerosols

Physical exercise in the user

Duration of the job to be carried out

Related risks (projection of fluids, fire, etc.)

Respiratory equipment selection guide

There are 2 broad categories of respiratory protective clothing:

Self-contained breathing apparatus

The device supplies breathable air from an external source. An individual is just not determined by the ambient air

Works extremely well in closed and confined spaces

Only use such a protection if there is any doubt about the quality of the air, along with all atmospheres having an oxygen level < 17%

Filtering respirators

The gear filters and purifies the contaminated air. An individual breathes the ambient air.

The ambient air must contain between 17 and 21% oxygen

That will help you determine the respiratory protective gear most suitable to your needs, we have provided a decision-making chart in line with the following questions:

In what situation will the respiratory protective gear supply?

What is the oxygen level during work? Note: an ordinary oxygen level is between 17 and 21%

Which pollutant is involved and how toxic is it?

Exactly what is the OEL, or permissible concentration degree of the pollutant?

After selecting the equipment family (filtering or powered respirator, self-contained breathing apparatus, emergency escape breathing devices or self-rescuers), you need to determine the minimum required Protection Factor (PF).

Minimum required PF = Energy contaminant away from facepiece / Permissible power of contaminant inside facepiece, or OEL.

To make sure sufficient protection, the Nominal Protection Factor (NPF) and also the Assigned Protection Factor (APF) should be greater than the minimum required Protection Factor (PF).

By way of example: when picking a filtering respirator (gas mask), you should find the best suited equipment using the protection levels shown inside the table and pick the best filter (type and class)

After choosing equipment family (filtering or powered respirator, self-contained breathing apparatus, emergency escape breathing devices or self-rescuers), you have to determine the minimum required Protection Factor (PF).

Minimum required PF = Power of contaminant outside the facepiece / Permissible power contaminant within the facepiece, or OEL.

To be sure sufficient protection, the Nominal Protection Factor (NPF) along with the Assigned Protection Factor (APF) have to be greater than the minimum required Protection Factor (PF).

By way of example: when deciding on self-contained breathing apparatus, you have to select the best fitting equipment depending on the protection levels shown from the table and pick the correct filter (type and class).

Equipment suitable for the task situation

Once you’ve determined the right group of respiratory protective gear, you’ll need to be in a position to adapt the equipment to the work situation. You must involve future users from the process because they’re individuals who are best capable of describe their activity.

These parameters need to be looked at:

Physical characteristics from the wearer (beard, face scars, etc.) which will determine the size and style and type of protection (helmet, hood, facepiece, etc.)

Perhaps the person wears contacts or glasses, because there are special devices for attaching glasses

Work patterns: air line breathing systems are better worthy of more intense work; powered respirators can be utilized if your flow is sufficient to counterbalance the negative pressure

Just how long for which the gear is going to be worn: it is far better to decide on powered filtering respirators if you need to use them in excess of 1 hour

Visibility requirements: with regards to the needs, natural meats recommend panoramic facepieces for improved visibility, single-use visors or hoods with a replaceable visor offering eye protection in case there is projections

Communication requirements: you will find models with phonic membranes and voice amplifiers enabling communication in harsh conditions for example confined spaces

Other personal protective gear and accessories to be used: some types of equipment have integrated head, eye, ear and respiratory tract protection – they are useful for welding operations, for example.

Decontamination requirements applicable to respiratory protective equipment

Thermal constraints

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