Everything you need to know about respiratory protection.

Dinamitek presents its guide to choosing respiratory PPE.

Safety regulations are clear: workplaces require protection. Yes, but protect yourself from what and how?

Respiratory protection is a complex process that must take into account several factors, including the worker's needs, the work activities it is used for, and the company's needs.

This last point is controversial, and we'll explain it immediately: a company can either require the use of PPE to reduce worker exposure below the danger threshold, or it can provide PPE that completely eliminates exposure to the danger. According to the legislation, both options are acceptable; they are correct and compliant, but they involve different actions and outcomes.

I want to see the entire range of respiratory protection PPE

The type of PPE for the respiratory tract is identified by evaluating the dangers to which the worker is exposed:

• Particulates, airborne microorganisms
• Dry powders
• Fogs
• Metal fumes
• Fibers
• Bacteria, viruses and spores
• Gases and vapors, detectable by the presence of odors in the air due to the volatile component that expands
• Oxygen deficiency: danger begins below 19%. A healthy environment has an oxygen level of 21%.

Once you've found the type of PPE, you need to choose the protection class . The protection class depends on the risk level of the environment. Three factors come into play:

1. Concentration of pollutant in the air
2. Worker exposure time to the harmful substance during the work shift
3. Toxicity of the harmful substance, which defines the limit of exposure to the substance itself

At this point, the factor mentioned at the beginning of this discussion comes into play: how should the level of protection affect the level of risk? Should it be lowered below the threshold limit or completely reduced? This strategic decision depends on objective evidence. The chosen PPE must be practical , well-tolerated by workers, and must integrate well with the use of other PPE (such as protective helmets, goggles, and eye masks) and must be easy to wear . If the chosen PPE is uncomfortable, the worker will tend to wear it as little as possible.

Workers must be provided with comprehensive information on the use, maintenance, and proper disposal of PPE. Contact with contaminants must be avoided at all times, both inside and outside the workplace. Workers must know everything about why they should wear PPE , when to wear it, how to put it on, how to remove it, how to store it, how to keep it clean and efficient, and how to check whether it is still in good condition and therefore reusable. PPE must be hygienic and safe to wear at all times, and this can only be achieved with adequate training.

There are 4 types of respiratory protective devices:

1. Filtering respirators, where the filter acts thanks to the force of the lungs, using a mechanical action
2. Filtering respirators with power supply, the filtration mechanism is automated and the worker is supplied with decontaminated air
3. Compressed air respirators, the worker must wear a full head covering
4. Self-contained breathing apparatus with on-demand air supply. The hermetically sealed full facepiece provides workers with clean air. Contact us to find the right solution for your company.

I want to see the entire range of respiratory protection PPE

Respiratory protection, informed and supported with Dinamitek