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Filtering or powered respirators, self-contained breathing apparatus, emergency escape breathing devices, self-rescuers plus more… These are classified as respiratory protective equipment! The question is: when if you work with them, and more importantly, how can you pick the right equipment to provide maximum protection?

This is a good practice guide to enable you to select the right type of respiratory protection.

When must you use respiratory protection?

Prior to making the wearing of respiratory protective clothing (RPE) mandatory, you must implement other prevention solutions such as finding substitutes for hazardous substances or installing air purification techniques (closing off processes, trapping pollutants, ventilating the premises, etc.). If it is not easy to put these measures in position, or if these are insufficient, you simply must provide respiratory protective gear.

Respiratory protective clothing is used:

When there is a risk a person’s health will be altered as a result of inhaling air which is polluted by gases, vapours, dust and aerosols or by oxygen-depleted air in the workplace;

When intervening to tackle a fireplace or gas leak, plus closed spaces in which the atmosphere can become dangerous on account of inhalation;

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

There are lots of types of respiratory protective clothing ideal for each situation and particular field. They work by placing physical barrier involving the polluted atmosphere in the office and the worker’s face (respiratory system, eyes, skin). They are classed as Personal Protective Equipment, so it is vital that you make a good choice to ensure you are properly protected.

Perform an assessment in the workstation

You have to define the conditions of use beforehand:

Oxygen level

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

Toxicity in the pollutants

Worst-case-scenario concentrations of every form of pollutant via a flight

Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs), if appropriate

Size of the particles when it comes to aerosols

Exercise in the user

Amount of the project to get completed

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

Respiratory equipment selection guide

There are 2 broad groups of respiratory protective gear:

Self-contained breathing apparatus

The device supplies breathable air from an outside source. The consumer just isn’t dependent on the ambient air

Can be used in closed and confined spaces

Always use this kind of protection if you have question regarding the expertise of the air, along with all atmospheres having an oxygen level < 17%

Filtering respirators

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

The ambient air must contain between 17 and 21% oxygen

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

Of what situation will the respiratory protective gear supply?

What’s the oxygen level during the period of work? Note: a normal oxygen level is between 17 and 21%

Which pollutant is involved and how toxic would it be?

Exactly what is the OEL, or permissible concentration degree of the pollutant?

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 = Power of contaminant outside of the facepiece / Permissible power of contaminant inside facepiece, or OEL.

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

As an example: when deciding on a filtering respirator (gas mask), you should choose the best fitting equipment in line with the protection levels shown from the table and pick 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’ll want to determine the minimum required Protection Factor (PF).

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

To be sure sufficient protection, the Nominal Protection Factor (NPF) and also the Assigned Protection Factor (APF) has to be in excess of the minimum required Protection Factor (PF).

By way of example: when selecting self-contained breathing apparatus, you have to find the most suitable equipment in line with the protection levels shown in the table and pick the right filter (type and class).

Equipment worthy of the job situation

After you have determined the appropriate family of respiratory protective gear, you should be in a position to adapt the apparatus to the work situation. It is very important involve future users within the process because they are the people who are best capable of describe their activity.

The next parameters must be taken into account:

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

Whether or not the person wears contacts or glasses, as there are special devices for attaching glasses

Work patterns: air line breathing systems are better suitable for more intense work; powered respirators can be utilized in the event the flow is sufficient to counterbalance the negative pressure

The length of time which is why the apparatus will probably be worn: it is better to pick powered filtering respirators if you need to wear them for over 60 minutes

Visibility requirements: with regards to the needs, we might recommend panoramic facepieces for improved visibility, single-use visors or hoods having a replaceable visor offering eye protection in case there is projections

Communication requirements: you can find models with phonic membranes and voice amplifiers enabling communication in harsh conditions such as confined spaces

Other personal protective equipment and accessories to use: particular sorts of equipment have integrated head, eye, ear and respiratory system protection – they are helpful for welding operations, as an example.

Decontamination requirements applicable to respiratory protective equipment

Thermal constraints

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