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Filtering or powered respirators, self-contained breathing apparatus, emergency escape breathing devices, self-rescuers and much more… All of these are called respiratory protective equipment! The question is: when if you work with them, and even more importantly, how can you select the right equipment to provide you maximum protection?

Here’s a good practice self-help guide to assist you to select the right sort of respiratory protection.

When are you looking to use respiratory protection?

Prior to you making the wearing of respiratory protective clothing (RPE) mandatory, it is essential to implement other prevention solutions for example finding substitutes for hazardous substances or installing air purification techniques (closing off processes, trapping pollutants, ventilating the premises, etc.). When not simple to put these measures set up, or maybe they are insufficient, you need to provide respiratory protective equipment.

Respiratory protective equipment is employed:

If you find a risk that the person’s health will probably be altered due to inhaling air that’s polluted by gases, vapours, dust and aerosols or by oxygen-depleted air at work;

When intervening to tackle a fireplace or gas leak, along with closed spaces in which the atmosphere can be dangerous due to inhalation;

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

There are numerous types of respiratory protective equipment suitable for each situation and certain field. They work by placing a physical barrier between your polluted atmosphere in the office and the worker’s face (respiratory tract, eyes, skin). They are classed as Personal Protective Equipment, so it’s vital that you make a good option to make certain you are well protected.

Perform an assessment of the workstation

You should define the stipulations people beforehand:

Oxygen level

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

Toxicity of the pollutants

Worst-case-scenario concentrations of each one sort of pollutant up

Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs), if appropriate

Proportions of the particles regarding aerosols

Exercise from the user

Duration of the job to be carried out

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

Respiratory equipment selection guide

There are two broad groups of respiratory protective clothing:

Self-contained breathing apparatus

The gear supplies breathable air from an external source. The consumer isn’t dependent on the ambient air

Works extremely well in closed and confined spaces

Only use this type of protection if there is any doubt regarding the quality of the air, as well as in all atmospheres having an oxygen level < 17%

Filtering respirators

The apparatus filters and purifies the contaminated air. The consumer breathes the ambient air.

The ambient air must contain between 17 and 21% oxygen

That will help you determine the kind of respiratory protective equipment best suited to your demands, we’ve provided a decision-making chart in line with the following questions:

As to what situation will the respiratory protective equipment be utilized?

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

What sort of pollutant is involved and the way toxic could it be?

What’s the OEL, or permissible concentration amount of the pollutant?

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

Minimum required PF = Concentration of contaminant beyond your facepiece / Permissible energy contaminant inside the facepiece, or OEL.

To ensure sufficient protection, the Nominal Protection Factor (NPF) as well as the Assigned Protection Factor (APF) has to be greater than the minimum required Protection Factor (PF).

As an example: when picking a filtering respirator (gas mask), you need to select the best fitting equipment using the protection levels shown within the table and select the right filter (type and sophistication)

After choosing 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 = Concentration of contaminant away from facepiece / Permissible energy contaminant in the facepiece, or OEL.

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

For instance: when choosing self-contained breathing apparatus, you should choose the most suitable equipment using the protection levels shown in the table and select the right filter (type and class).

Equipment suited to the task situation

When you have determined the appropriate class of respiratory protective gear, you should be capable to adapt the apparatus on the work situation. It is essential to involve future users within the shopping process as they are the people who are best capable of describe their activity.

The next parameters need to be looked at:

Physical characteristics with the wearer (beard, face scars, etc.) that can determine the scale and sort 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 fitted to more intense work; powered respirators can be utilized if the flow is sufficient counterbalance the negative pressure

Just how long that the device will probably be worn: it is better to decide on powered filtering respirators if you need to wear them for more than 1 hour

Visibility requirements: depending on the needs, organic beef recommend panoramic facepieces for improved visibility, single-use visors or hoods using a replaceable visor offering eye protection in the case of projections

Communication requirements: there are models with phonic membranes and voice amplifiers enabling communication in harsh conditions such as confined spaces

Other personal protective equipment and accessories to be utilized: some kinds of equipment have integrated head, eye, ear and respiratory tract protection – they are ideal for welding operations, as an example.

Decontamination requirements applicable to respiratory protective gear

Thermal constraints

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