RESPIRATOR PROTECTION
There are three main types of RPE available
1. Disposable Respirators
Are Ideal for most industries and applications where wearers require particular protection e.g. dusts and mists. They are lightweight, maintenance free, comfortable, convenient and easy to use. This includes masks such as N95 / P2 that are also effective with smoke particulates and biological hazards such as COVID-19.
2. Reusable Half & Full Face Respirators
Offer protection against particulates, gases and vapours and combinations of the two. These respirators have integrated or replaceable filters and parts. They may be cleaned, stored and reused provided they are in good condition. Full face respirators also offer integrated eye and face protection, and most models are fully maintainable.
3. Powered Air & Supplied Air Systems
Offer protection against dusts, mists, fumes, gases, vapours and combination hazards e.g. paint spray, and can offer integrated eye, face, head, neck and hearing protection in one system minimising incompatibility issues between items of PPE. Such systems also allow you to mix and match parts as your environment or application changes giving you flexibility and ease of use, and allow for longer wear time. These systems are also suitable by for a wide range of users regardless of facial characteristics; shape, size etc.
However, when an immediate danger to life atmosphere is identified, air purifying respirators/filtering devices are not suitable, and self-contained and/or air supplied demand breathing apparatus must be used. Due to the risk of oxygen displacing gases or other hazards where a filter may not provide the appropriate protection from the hazard.
Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) is given a Protection Factor (PF), which is a measure of the efficiency of the respiratory protection devices, i.e. if the content of a substance on the inside of the mask is 1/15 of what it is in the ambient air, the respiratory protective device is said to have a Protection Factor of 50.
The atmospheric contaminant determines the type of filter required for gases and vapours, there are 11 different types available.
FIT Test
There are two types of tests, qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative fit testing is fast and easily performed, but rely on the wearer’s subjective response, so it is not entirely reliable. It is a simple pass/ fail test based on the user’s subjective assessment of the leakage, via the face seal region, of a test agent.
The Quantitative fit testing uses equipment to measure the efficiency of a respirator in preventing materials in the atmosphere from entering a user’s breathing zone. This method does not rely on a subjective response
Fit testing should be conducted annually or whenever there is a change in the wearer’s facial characteristics, e.g. if the wearer was to grow facial hair, have or experience excessive changes in weight, or loss of teeth.