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Respirators: Choice matters
25 January 2013
With so many different forms of Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) on the market, choosing the correct form of protection can be confusing. Here, Mark Andrews, product manager Air Purified at Scott Safety, helps navig
With so many different forms of Respiratory Protective
Equipment (RPE) on the market, choosing the correct form
of protection can be confusing. Here, Mark Andrews,
product manager Air Purified at Scott Safety, helps
navigate the sea of choice
Respiratory diseases rank as the third most prevalent occupational disease category in Europe, according to a survey of occupational diseases in the European Union (EU)1. Respiratory protection is a vital form of protection for a number of industries including manufacturing, pharmaceutical, agriculture, automotive, process engineering and many more. As industries have developed, manufacturers have had to innovate in order to protect individuals working with new respiratory hazards.
A respiratory protection programme is the first step in selecting the respiratory protection equipment suitable for you and the environment in which you work. A risk assessment will document and assess all hazards that each worker could potentially come into contact with, including those that require respiratory protection and/or other forms of PPE that protect additional routes of exposure such as absorption through the skin. For respiratory protection it is vital to identify the different contaminants and their physical forms (gas, vapour or particulate) and concentration in the environment; also, whether oxygen is present at a safe level for working.
It is important that the correct diagnostic test is selected to ensure that all hazards are characterised effectively. If the contaminants' exposure limit is undefined, control banding is recommended. Having determined the protection level required, respiratory equipment can be selected.
Protection factors for different types of respirators can be found in EN529:2005.
It is also important that a risk assessment identifies how much activity the wearer will be undertaking when using respiratory protection and any personal characteristics that could affect the choice of facepiece such as glasses and facial hair. These characteristics are important as they can compromise fit. Using a correctly fitted mask is as important as choosing the right type of respirator, therefore it is vital that workers are educated by a competent person, as part of the respiratory programme.
There are two types of respirators; airpurifying, and breathing apparatus or supplied-air. Air-purifying respirators are designed to remove contaminants from the air that you are breathing by filtering out particles or absorbing gases or vapours.
Breathing apparatus or supplied-air respirators supply a constant flow of clean air from a compressed tank or via an airline.
As a general guide to selection, the suitability of different respirators, masks or hoods for various working environments are as follows: If you are working in an environment where there is a risk of oxygen deficiency or very high presence of acutely toxic substances then only breathing apparatus should be worn.
A half face mask can be used to protect against a wide variety of harmful substances within its protective capability, determined by mask type and filter efficiency.
Use a full-face mask/hood if eyes and/or head need protecting from a particular hazard, for example in paint spraying applications that can damage eyes.
Selection drivers are often based on comfort rather than protection.
Certain types of respirator are more effective and comfortable for use over longer periods of time. In this case, a hood with airline could be selected.
Where head protection is also required, use a headtop incorporating a helmet.
If an unrestricted view is required - then a 'panoramic' type facemask would be suitable.
Often 'clean-room' environments need to consider the requirement for protecting the product from the worker rather than the worker from the product, such as in pharmaceuticals/electronics assembly. In this instance a headtop without conventional exhale valve could be selected.
For welding applications, in addition to respiratory protection against welding fumes and gases, there is a need for a darkening filter integral in the headtop to protect welders' eyes from radiation exposure.
1http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/35/2/234.full
Respiratory diseases rank as the third most prevalent occupational disease category in Europe, according to a survey of occupational diseases in the European Union (EU)1. Respiratory protection is a vital form of protection for a number of industries including manufacturing, pharmaceutical, agriculture, automotive, process engineering and many more. As industries have developed, manufacturers have had to innovate in order to protect individuals working with new respiratory hazards.
A respiratory protection programme is the first step in selecting the respiratory protection equipment suitable for you and the environment in which you work. A risk assessment will document and assess all hazards that each worker could potentially come into contact with, including those that require respiratory protection and/or other forms of PPE that protect additional routes of exposure such as absorption through the skin. For respiratory protection it is vital to identify the different contaminants and their physical forms (gas, vapour or particulate) and concentration in the environment; also, whether oxygen is present at a safe level for working.
It is important that the correct diagnostic test is selected to ensure that all hazards are characterised effectively. If the contaminants' exposure limit is undefined, control banding is recommended. Having determined the protection level required, respiratory equipment can be selected.
Protection factors for different types of respirators can be found in EN529:2005.
It is also important that a risk assessment identifies how much activity the wearer will be undertaking when using respiratory protection and any personal characteristics that could affect the choice of facepiece such as glasses and facial hair. These characteristics are important as they can compromise fit. Using a correctly fitted mask is as important as choosing the right type of respirator, therefore it is vital that workers are educated by a competent person, as part of the respiratory programme.
There are two types of respirators; airpurifying, and breathing apparatus or supplied-air. Air-purifying respirators are designed to remove contaminants from the air that you are breathing by filtering out particles or absorbing gases or vapours.
Breathing apparatus or supplied-air respirators supply a constant flow of clean air from a compressed tank or via an airline.
As a general guide to selection, the suitability of different respirators, masks or hoods for various working environments are as follows: If you are working in an environment where there is a risk of oxygen deficiency or very high presence of acutely toxic substances then only breathing apparatus should be worn.
A half face mask can be used to protect against a wide variety of harmful substances within its protective capability, determined by mask type and filter efficiency.
Use a full-face mask/hood if eyes and/or head need protecting from a particular hazard, for example in paint spraying applications that can damage eyes.
Selection drivers are often based on comfort rather than protection.
Certain types of respirator are more effective and comfortable for use over longer periods of time. In this case, a hood with airline could be selected.
Where head protection is also required, use a headtop incorporating a helmet.
If an unrestricted view is required - then a 'panoramic' type facemask would be suitable.
Often 'clean-room' environments need to consider the requirement for protecting the product from the worker rather than the worker from the product, such as in pharmaceuticals/electronics assembly. In this instance a headtop without conventional exhale valve could be selected.
For welding applications, in addition to respiratory protection against welding fumes and gases, there is a need for a darkening filter integral in the headtop to protect welders' eyes from radiation exposure.
1http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/35/2/234.full
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