RPE not RIP
July 1st 2009 If the wrong RPE is chosen or the wrong level specified an
employee's life can be put at risk, yet an independent report
commissioned by 3M found that 25% of health and safety
managers say the main issue they face is in knowing which
level of protective equipment to use for which hazard
In June the British Lung Foundation
began its campaign to raise awareness of
lung disease and the lives that it affects.
Respiratory disease is the second biggest
killer in the UK (117,456 deaths in 2004)*
and deaths from occupational lung disease
are rising rapidly.
The pharmaceutical industry has a
particular challenge as it is faced with a range
of hazards including cytotoxic drugs and
biologically active ingredients.
Choosing appropriate respiratory
protective equipment (RPE) in terms of
adequate levels of protection and suitability
to the job is paramount.
An independent report, commissioned by
3M, comprised interviews with more than
200 workers and more than 100 health and
safety managers. It showed that
manufacturers of protective equipment need
to be doing more to help out the health and
safety specifiers. Often they are confused by
the varying levels of protection offered
against different hazards. If the wrong RPE is
chosen or the wrong level specified then
workers can be put at risk of contracting
lung disease. Another issue is comfort. If
RPE is not comfortable or impedes the
worker's job then it is unlikely to be worn
correctly – if at all.
RPE comprises two main types: Air
filtering and air supplying. Air filtering
devices include disposable respirators, half
and full masks and powered air (turbo unit)
respirators. Air supplying devices include
equipment that delivers air from either a
cylinder (self contained breathing apparatus)
or compressor (air fed equipment).
3M has developed a new range of soft
headcovers and hoods for use with its
powered and supplied air equipment,
designed to combat existing concerns on
protection and comfort. The 3M S-Series
headcovers have been designed with fully
integrated suspension; just attach 3M
powered or supplied air equipment and
you're ready to go. They are suitable for
applications that require frequent
replacement of the entire headtop assembly,
such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, or in
situations where there is a low level of soiling
of the outer fabric.
The hoods offer a cost-effective choice for
some high disposal rate environments; just
the soiled fabric is replaced, while the
suspension and air ducting can be reused.
Hoods have an externally-adjustable airflow
control that allows wearers to modify the
airflow distribution to suit the individual.
Other benefits claimed include: Good field
of vision with reduced curvature for
decreased reflections and glare; improved
air-flow distribution for comfort and lower
noise. Hoods are lightweight and loosefitting
and provide coverage of head or head,
neck and shoulders as well as eye and face
protection to EN166 – the same level of
protection as most safety spectacles; They
have an Aa Assigned Protection Factor of 40.
The S-Series can be worn over prescription
eyewear and some facial hair. Headcovers
come in small/medium and medium/large.
A guidance package shows how regular
checks and maintenance can help maintain
protection levels, optimise the lifespan of the
product and avoid the cost of early
replacement. A new
maintenance and care folder
will be sent to all users who
request it.
Commenting on the
company's helpline, Jo
Partridge of 3M says "We talk
through the process with the
customer to understand the
hazard and the environment.
Each call is dealt with on its
own, helping find solutions
for each issue."
* Figures from the British
Lung Foundation More articles from 3M UK Plc: | 
