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

Here is a sound practice self-help guide to allow you to select the right sort of respiratory protection.

When are you looking to use respiratory protection?

Prior to making the wearing of respiratory protective clothing (RPE) mandatory, it is important 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.). If it’s not easy to put these measures set up, or maybe these are insufficient, you will need to provide respiratory protective equipment.

Respiratory protective clothing is used:

If there is a hazard that a person’s health will be altered due to inhaling air that is polluted by gases, vapours, dust and aerosols or by oxygen-depleted air in the workplace;

When intervening to tackle a fire or gas leak, and in closed spaces the place that the atmosphere can become dangerous on account of inhalation;

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

There are many kinds of respiratory protective clothing suited to each situation and specific field. They work by placing a physical barrier between the polluted atmosphere in the office and also the worker’s face (respiratory tract, eyes, skin). These devices are classed as Personal Protective clothing, so it’s vital that you make a good choice to be sure you are well protected.

Perform an assessment with the workstation

You’ll want to define the conditions people beforehand:

Oxygen level

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

Toxicity in the pollutants

Worst-case-scenario concentrations of each type of pollutant in mid-air

Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs), if appropriate

Measurements of the particles regarding aerosols

Physical exercise with the user

Amount of the task to be performed

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

Respiratory equipment selection guide

There are 2 broad categories of respiratory protective equipment:

Self-contained breathing apparatus

The device supplies breathable air from another source. The person is just not determined by the ambient air

May be used in closed and confined spaces

Only use such a protection if there is any doubt in regards to the company’s air, and in all atmospheres with the oxygen level < 17%

Filtering respirators

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

The ambient air must contain between 17 and 21% oxygen

To help you determine the type of respiratory protective equipment ideal to your desires, we’ve got provided a decision-making chart based on the following questions:

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

Exactly what is the oxygen level throughout work? Note: a standard oxygen level is between 17 and 21%

What type of pollutant is involved and the way toxic can it be?

Is there a OEL, or permissible concentration level of the pollutant?

After deciding on 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 = Energy contaminant outside the facepiece / Permissible concentration of contaminant inside facepiece, or OEL.

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

For example: when picking a filtering respirator (gas mask), you need to find the most suitable equipment using the protection levels shown inside the table and select the best filter (type and class)

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 = Power of contaminant outside of the facepiece / Permissible concentration of contaminant within the facepiece, or OEL.

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

For instance: when picking self-contained breathing apparatus, you have to find the best fitting equipment based on the protection levels shown inside the table and choose the correct filter (type and sophistication).

Equipment suited to the task situation

When you have determined the proper category of respiratory protective equipment, you have to be capable to adapt the apparatus on the work situation. It is very important involve future users within the selection process because they are the people who are best in a position to describe their activity.

These parameters need to be taken into consideration:

Physical characteristics with the wearer (beard, face scars, etc.) that may determine the size and style and sort of protection (helmet, hood, facepiece, etc.)

If the person wears glasses or contact lenses, 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 used when the flow will cancel out the negative pressure

The amount of time which is why the apparatus will probably be worn: it is best to choose powered filtering respirators if you need to wear them for over An hour

Visibility requirements: based on the needs, organic beef recommend panoramic facepieces for improved visibility, single-use visors or hoods which has 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 for example confined spaces

Other personal protective clothing and accessories to be used: some kinds of equipment have integrated head, eye, ear and respiratory tract protection – they’re helpful for welding operations, by way of example.

Decontamination requirements applicable to respiratory protective clothing

Thermal constraints

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