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

This is a good practice help guide to assist you to pick the best form of respiratory protection.

When do you need to use respiratory protection?

Before making the wearing of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) mandatory, it is essential to implement other prevention solutions including finding substitutes for hazardous substances or installing air purification techniques (closing off processes, trapping pollutants, ventilating the premises, etc.). If it is not simple to put these measures available, or if perhaps these are insufficient, you need to provide respiratory protective equipment.

Respiratory protective equipment is utilized:

When there is a risk a person’s health will be altered on account of inhaling air that’s polluted by gases, vapours, dust and aerosols or by oxygen-depleted air on the job;

When intervening to tackle a fire or gas leak, along with closed spaces the location where the atmosphere could become dangerous as a result of inhalation;

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

There are lots of forms of respiratory protective clothing suited to each situation and particular field. They work by locating a physical barrier between the polluted atmosphere on the job and also the worker’s face (respiratory tract, eyes, skin). They are classed as Personal Protective gear, so it’s imperative that you make the right replacement for be sure you are properly protected.

Perform an assessment of the workstation

You have to define the circumstances of usage beforehand:

Oxygen level

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

Toxicity of the pollutants

Worst-case-scenario concentrations of each one kind of pollutant in the air

Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs), if appropriate

Size of the particles in the case of aerosols

Exercise in the user

Time period of the project to be accomplished

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

Respiratory equipment selection guide

There’s two broad categories of respiratory protective gear:

Self-contained breathing apparatus

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

Can be utilized in closed and confined spaces

Always employ such a protection if there is question in regards to the company’s air, and in all atmospheres by having an oxygen level < 17%

Filtering respirators

The apparatus 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 respiratory protective gear suitable to your wants, we now have provided a decision-making chart using the following questions:

In what situation will the respiratory protective clothing supply?

Is there a oxygen level throughout work? Note: a standard oxygen level is between 17 and 21%

Which pollutant is involved and exactly how toxic can it be?

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

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 = Concentration of contaminant beyond your facepiece / Permissible concentration of contaminant inside the facepiece, or OEL.

To make sure sufficient protection, the Nominal Protection Factor (NPF) along with the Assigned Protection Factor (APF) should be in excess of the minimum required Protection Factor (PF).

By way of example: when deciding on a filtering respirator (gas mask), you’ll want to select the best fitting equipment in line with the protection levels shown inside the table and choose the correct filter (type and sophistication)

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 = Concentration of contaminant outside of the facepiece / Permissible power contaminant within the facepiece, or OEL.

To make certain sufficient protection, the Nominal Protection Factor (NPF) along with the Assigned Protection Factor (APF) must be higher than the minimum required Protection Factor (PF).

For instance: when choosing self-contained breathing apparatus, you’ll want to choose the best fitting equipment in line with the protection levels shown inside the table and select the correct filter (type and sophistication).

Equipment suited to the task situation

After you have determined the appropriate category of respiratory protective gear, you have to be capable of adapt the device to the work situation. It is essential to involve future users from the selection process because they’re the people who are best in a position to describe their activity.

The subsequent parameters need to be looked at:

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

Perhaps the person wears glasses or contact lenses, because there are special devices for attaching glasses

Work patterns: air line breathing systems are better worthy of more intense work; powered respirators can be utilized if the flow is sufficient offset the negative pressure

How long in which the equipment will be worn: it is best to pick powered filtering respirators in order to put them on in excess of 60 minutes

Visibility requirements: depending on the needs, we might recommend panoramic facepieces for improved visibility, single-use visors or hoods which has a replaceable visor offering eye protection in case there is projections

Communication requirements: you will find models with phonic membranes and voice amplifiers enabling communication in harsh conditions including confined spaces

Other personal protective gear and accessories to be used: some kinds of equipment have integrated head, eye, ear and respiratory system protection – they’re helpful for welding operations, as an example.

Decontamination requirements applicable to respiratory protective gear

Thermal constraints

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