Filtering or powered respirators, self-contained breathing apparatus, emergency escape breathing devices, self-rescuers and more… Most of these are classified as respiratory protective clothing! Now you ask ,: when should you use them, and above all, how can you select the right equipment to provide maximum protection?

This is a good practice self-help guide to allow you to select the right form of respiratory protection.

When must you use respiratory protection?

Before you make the wearing of respiratory protective clothing (RPE) mandatory, you must 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 in place, or maybe if they are insufficient, you simply must provide respiratory protective equipment.

Respiratory protective clothing is utilized:

If you find a threat which a person’s health is going to be altered due to inhaling air that’s polluted by gases, vapours, dust and aerosols or by oxygen-depleted air in the workplace;

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

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

There are lots of types of respiratory protective clothing ideal for each situation and specific field. They work by placing a physical barrier between your polluted atmosphere in the workplace as well as the worker’s face (respiratory tract, eyes, skin). These units are classed as Personal Protective Equipment, therefore it is important to make the right replacement for be sure you are well protected.

Accomplish an exam of the workstation

You should define the conditions useful beforehand:

Oxygen level

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

Toxicity in the pollutants

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

Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs), if appropriate

Size of the particles in the matter of aerosols

Physical exercise of the user

Duration of the work being performed

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

Respiratory equipment selection guide

There’s two broad groups of respiratory protective gear:

Self-contained breathing apparatus

The apparatus supplies breathable air from an outside source. The person is just not determined by the ambient air

Can be utilized in closed and confined spaces

Only use this kind of protection if you find question in regards to the company’s air, and in all atmospheres with an oxygen level < 17%

Filtering respirators

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

The ambient air must contain between 17 and 21% oxygen

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

As to what situation will the respiratory protective gear supply?

Is there a oxygen level during the period of work? Note: an average oxygen level is between 17 and 21%

What sort of pollutant is involved and exactly how toxic would it be?

What is the OEL, or permissible concentration degree of the pollutant?

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 contaminant beyond your facepiece / Permissible power contaminant in the facepiece, or OEL.

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

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

After choosing 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 contaminant beyond your facepiece / Permissible power of contaminant inside the facepiece, or OEL.

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

By way of example: when choosing self-contained breathing apparatus, you need to find the most suitable equipment depending on the protection levels shown in the table and select the proper filter (type and sophistication).

Equipment suitable for the work situation

Once you have determined the appropriate group of respiratory protective gear, you’ll need to be able to adapt the gear to the work situation. It is very important involve future users from the process as they are the people who are best in a position to describe their activity.

The subsequent parameters have to be considered:

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

Perhaps the person wears glasses or contact lenses, with there being special devices for attaching glasses

Work patterns: air line breathing systems be more effective fitted to more serious work; powered respirators can be utilized if your flow is sufficient cancel out the negative pressure

The amount of time for which the equipment is going to be worn: it is advisable to pick powered filtering respirators if you want to put them on for longer than 60 minutes

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

Communication requirements: you’ll find models with phonic membranes and voice amplifiers enabling communication in harsh conditions like confined spaces

Other personal protective clothing and accessories to be utilized: some types of equipment have integrated head, eye, ear and respiratory tract protection – they may be helpful for welding operations, for instance.

Decontamination requirements applicable to respiratory protective gear

Thermal constraints

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