Personal Protective Equipment - Types of Respiratory
Protection
- Part 4 of 4
By: The Working Man
PARTICULATE FILTERS
Particulate Filters are a combination of absorption and filtering
apparatus.
PESTICIDE RESPIRATORS SELF-RESCUE UNITS
Pesticide Respirators Self-Rescue Units are made up of a face
piece, organic vapor canister and an aerosol filter. These are
used when pesticides will be sprayed or are already present in
the area.
AIR SUPPLY RESPIRATORS
Air Supply Respirators are self contained so they are also called
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus. They will protect you in the
event that there is low oxygen and high toxic vapors, gases,
dusts, molds, etcetera. When used with other personal protection
equipment that completely isolates you from the environment
around you, you will be protected from the prevailing dangerous
conditions in your work site.
These apparatus are often chosen and worn by rescue workers and
emergency workers because they can operate without a heavy air
supply and have no trailing hoses. They are, however, often
bulky, heavy and hot and are limited by the amount of air that is
carried by the individual who is wearing them. They also require
that you receive special training before you can use them
properly.
SUPPLIED-AIR RESPIRATORS
Supplied-Air Respirators give air to someone directly through a
hose that connects a mask to the external air source. Often these
respirators are provided for those who need extra oxygen due to a
lack of ability to breathe on their own or who are in an
unbreathable atmosphere. A SCUBA diver's equipment falls into
this category.
There are different sub-groups of the supplied-air respirators as
follows:
- Hose mask with blower
- Hose mask without blower
- Air-line respirators
- Hose masks and air-line respirators
The Hose Mask with Blowers is a full face mask connected to an
air source through flexible tubing. This provides the wearer with
air under pressure by a power-operated blower or by hand. The
inlet end of the air hose must not be near the compressor.
Hose Masks that do not have a blower are similar to the Hose Mask
With Blower but the air is not hand operated or powered, instead
it is operated by the efforts if the wearer as they draw in air.
This particular mask should not be worn if the hose is longer
than twenty-two meters. A diver's snorkel qualifies as a hose
mask.
Air-Line Respirators can be either half mask or full mask with a
hose attached to a compressed air source. They are designed to
provide constant positive pressure inside the mask to prevent
inward leakage. Air-Line Respirators can be used with hose
connections up to ninety meters in length.
Hose Masks with Air-Line Respirators are the most efficient and
should be used where there are heavy concentrations of vapors,
mists, dust or gas that can instantly cause damage to your
health. They are comfortable to wear and are light and are best
for long term use when oxygen is needed.
The long hose may be a nuisance or hazard should it become
blocked, cut or caught on something, and you must be careful that
contaminants never be introduced into the system. You should fit
this unit with filters on the compressor and check the filters
regularly; your life depends on them. Otherwise sometimes exhaust
carbon monoxide will find its way into the unit from the
compressor and make its way into the air line because the air
intake valve is placed improperly if filters are not placed on
the compressor unit.
Always be careful to choose the right protection for your
particular job or where you may be exposed to dangerous
environments. Be sure to choose the right canisters and always
maintain and check canisters and filters so that you do not put
yourself in danger.
Be sure to read all instructions and manuals that come with the
equipment. It is recommended that you also take courses to learn
how to properly use the different respiratory protection you will
have to use in the course of your job.
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