Respiratory Protection Equipment (RPE)

Respiratory Protective Equipment is a key protective measure when it comes to defending employees from hazardous airborne dust. It can prevent even some of the most pervasive chemicals, vapours and dusts getting in and causing long-term health issues for workers. Therefore, it's important to ensure you have the right RPE and are using it in the right way.

Before you consider using RPE in your workplace, you must explore all other avenues of preventing and reducing respiratory-related hazards and all reasonably practicable measures implemented in the first instance. This could include improved ventilation and using less hazardous materials.

Carrying out a risk assessment is the clearest way of identifying all the present risks and working out the most effective way to tackle these. It is a legal requirement that you use RPE as a last resort.

When supplying RPE, it's the duty of the employer to:

• Provide the correct RPE
• Ensure it is suitable for the task
• Offer training on the equipment and ensure the equipment is stored, cleaned and maintained correctly
• Regularly inspect RPE to make sure it is fit for purpose

Anyone using RPE will need to be informed why they need the equipment, when and how it should be used, repaired or replaced and if there are any limitations.

There are two main types of respiratory protective equipment, respirators and breathing apparatus, and come in many different designs to:

• Protect the wearer from a variety of hazards
• Suit a variety of work situations
• Match the specific requirement of the wearer

Respirators

Respirators are filtering devices that use filters to remove contaminant from the air being breathed in. They can be either non-powered and therefore rely on the wearer's breathing to draw in air or powered; using a motor to supply clean air. Filters are a key component for both type of respirators but are either an intrinsic part of the device or come separately so they can be changed on a reusable respirator.

They are available for solid or liquid particles or vapours and gases and therefore vital the correct filter is used to protect the wearer against the hazard.

Non-Powered Respirators

Disposable Masks

Widely used, disposable masks are fit for single use and available with different protection factors depending on what level of protection is required. They offer particulate protection only and are available in three classes: FFP1, FFP2 or FFP3. Tight-fitting masks require a face fit test and rely on having a good seal with the wearer's face, therefore cannot be worn with facial hair.

Arco Professional Safety Services Fit2Fit accredited mobile respiratory protection team can conduct qualitative and quantitative face fit testing.

Visit Arco Professional Safety Services or Telephone: 0330 390 0822 / Email: info@arcoservices.co.uk

Pros:

• Ideal for short duration and infrequent use
• Cost effective in the short term
• Lightweight and low maintenance

Cons:

• Not suitable for workers with facial hair as this affects the seal
• With disposables only suitable for one-off use, this can be costly in the long run and
• Generate a high amount of waste

Reusable Masks

There are two types of reusable masks: half masks and full-face masks. Both facepieces cover the nose, mouth and chin, while the full-mask also cover the eyes.

For both masks, oxygen is drawn in through the inhalation valve, through a filter, into the mask. When breathing out, an inlet valve then closes and an exhalation valve opens to allow exhaled air to escape the atmosphere.

Half masks and full-face masks are both tight-fitting facepieces and therefore require a face fit test.

Visit Arco Professional Safety Services or Telephone: 0330 390 0822 / Email: info@arcoservices.co.uk

Pros:

• Reusable masks are recommended for longer tasks (over an hour) as they are generally more comfortable for the wearer than disposables
• Better for the environment
• Lower running costs

Cons:

• Not suitable for workers with facial hair as this affects the seal
• Servicing and maintenance costs
• Reusable respirators require a legal record kept of COSHH inspections and maintenance every 28 days as a minimum

Powered air systems provide extensive protection from hazardous airborne substances, creating an air flow inside either a tight-fitting facepiece or loose-fitting hood. Tight-fitting masks rely on having a good seal with the wearer's face and therefore cannot be worn with facial hair. These types of RPE require a face fit test. Loose-fitting facepieces such as hoods and visors rely on enough clean air filling the headtop to prevent contaminant leaking in.

Arco Professional Safety Services Fit2Fit accredited mobile respiratory protection team can conduct qualitative and quantitative face fit testing.

Visit Arco Professional Safety Services or Telephone: 0330 390 0822 / Email: info@arcoservices.co.uk

Pros:

• Recommended for tasks with longer duration or frequent use due to the higher level of protection provided
• Combined with a loose-fitting head top, powered air purifying respirators are suitable for people with facial hair
• Reusable components and replaceable filters result in lower running cost

Cons:

• More expensive to buy initially with a higher up-front cost
• Require servicing and maintenance costs
• Powered respirators are bulkier than other RPE

Breathing apparatus can be used against a range of airborne hazards and in different atmospheres by supplying air from an independent source such as a compressed air cylinder or air compressor.

 It's important to distinguish between face coverings, face masks and PPE such as respirators or dust masks.