Filtering or powered respirators, self-contained breathing apparatus, emergency escape breathing devices, self-rescuers plus much more… All of these are classified as respiratory protective gear! Now you ask ,: when should you use them, and even more importantly, how do you choose the best equipment to provide you maximum protection?

Here’s a sound practice help guide to assist you to select the best sort of respiratory protection.

When should you use respiratory protection?

Prior to you making the wearing of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) mandatory, it is very important implement other prevention solutions like finding substitutes for hazardous substances or installing air purification techniques (closing off processes, trapping pollutants, ventilating the premises, etc.). When not possible to put these measures available, or maybe if they’re insufficient, you need to provide respiratory protective clothing.

Respiratory protective clothing is employed:

If you find a risk a person’s health will be altered on account of inhaling air that is polluted by gases, vapours, dust and aerosols or by oxygen-depleted air on the job;

When intervening to tackle a fireplace or gas leak, plus closed spaces the location where the atmosphere can be dangerous as a result of inhalation;

In closed areas by having an insufficient oxygen supply (contaminated areas).

There are many varieties of respiratory protective gear suited to each situation and particular field. They work by locating a physical barrier between your polluted atmosphere in the office along with the worker’s face (respiratory tract, eyes, skin). The unit are classed as Personal Protective clothing, so it will be important to make the right substitute for ensure you are properly protected.

Execute an assessment of the workstation

You need to define the physical conditions useful beforehand:

Oxygen level

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

Toxicity in the pollutants

Worst-case-scenario concentrations of each type of pollutant up

Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs), if appropriate

Size of the particles in the matter of aerosols

Exercise from the user

Amount of the project to become completed

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

Respiratory equipment selection guide

There’s two broad types of respiratory protective clothing:

Self-contained breathing apparatus

The equipment supplies breathable air from an outside source. The consumer is not dependent on the ambient air

May be used in closed and confined spaces

Only use this kind of protection if you have question regarding the company’s air, along with all atmospheres with the oxygen level < 17%

Filtering respirators

The device filters and purifies the contaminated air. The user breathes the ambient air.

The ambient air must contain between 17 and 21% oxygen

That will help you determine the sort of respiratory protective equipment most suitable to your desires, we’ve provided a decision-making chart using the following questions:

In what situation will the respiratory protective gear supply?

What is the oxygen level over work? Note: a standard oxygen level is between 17 and 21%

What sort of pollutant is involved and the way 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 should determine the minimum required Protection Factor (PF).

Minimum required PF = Power of contaminant away from facepiece / Permissible concentration of contaminant within the facepiece, or OEL.

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

For example: when selecting a filtering respirator (gas mask), you need to find the most suitable equipment depending on the protection levels shown from the table and choose the correct filter (type and class)

After choosing the 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 of the facepiece / Permissible concentration of contaminant in the facepiece, or OEL.

To be sure sufficient protection, the Nominal Protection Factor (NPF) as well as the Assigned Protection Factor (APF) must be more than the minimum required Protection Factor (PF).

By way of example: when choosing self-contained breathing apparatus, you’ll want to pick the most suitable equipment based on the protection levels shown from the table and pick the best filter (type and class).

Equipment fitted to the job situation

Once you’ve determined the correct family of respiratory protective equipment, you should be capable of adapt the device on the work situation. It is important to involve future users within the shopping process because they are the people who are best capable of describe their activity.

The next parameters need to be taken into consideration:

Physical characteristics of the wearer (beard, face scars, etc.) which will determine the scale and design of protection (helmet, hood, facepiece, etc.)

If the person wears contacts or glasses, since there are special devices for attaching glasses

Work patterns: air line breathing systems are better suitable for more serious work; powered respirators can be used when the flow is sufficient to counterbalance the negative pressure

The length of time in which the device will likely be worn: it is far better to select powered filtering respirators if you wish to use them for more than 1 hour

Visibility requirements: with respect to the needs, we might recommend panoramic facepieces for improved visibility, single-use visors or hoods which has a replaceable visor offering eye protection in case of projections

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

Other personal protective clothing and accessories to use: particular sorts of equipment have integrated head, eye, ear and respiratory system protection – they’re ideal for welding operations, for instance.

Decontamination requirements applicable to respiratory protective clothing

Thermal constraints

To learn more take a look at this useful resource: more details