RESPIRATORY TRACT PROTECTION IN 4 STEPS

In this short guide, we highlight the 4 steps to understanding respiratory PPE so you can correctly wear the right one to ensure the right protection in your specific work environment.
Your workday can be safe and comfortable by using the correct PPE.

The 4 steps of respiratory protection

1. Risk identification
2 risk assessment
3 Identifying and choosing the respirator
4 PPE validation and training

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1. Risk identification
What risks is the operator exposed to?
POWDERS AND FIBERS are solid particles that derive from the crushing of solid materials
FUMES are solid particles resulting from the melting of a rapidly cooling metal. Welding fumes are a typical example.
FOGs are suspended liquid particles such as oil mists and paint mists
GASES AND VAPORS are gaseous particles such as paint solvents

2 risk assessment
Risk assessment involves identifying the toxicity and hazardousness of the contaminant

Here are the benchmarks

TLV-TWA time-weighted average threshold limit value

The average concentration (8 hours per day out of 40 hours per week) to which one is repeatedly exposed without negative effects on health is evaluated.

TLV STEL threshold limit value for short-term exposure

It is the concentration evaluated over 15 minutes of exposure

OLFACTORY THRESHOLD

It refers to the personal perception of the odor of the contaminant

3 Identifying and choosing the respirator

Evaluation parameters

Adequacy
Fitness
Protection
Comfort and adaptability to the face, the most important parameter to evaluate is breathing resistance

What type of respirator should I use?

A. Isolating respirators
It is used when

• the percentage of oxygen present in the work environment is less than 19.5%
• the concentration of the contaminant exceeds the protection threshold guaranteed by the filter respirator
• There are gases or vapors that cannot be detected because they are odorless or because the olfactory threshold exceeds the TLV/TWA level. This means that by the time you perceive them, it is already too dangerous.
• the nature of the contaminant is unknown

B. Filter respirators
It is used when

• the percentage of oxygen present in the work environment is higher than 19.5%
• the concentration of the contaminant is lower than the protection threshold guaranteed by the filter respirator
• the presence of the contaminated substance is immediately perceived at the olfactory level
• the nature and concentration of the dangerous substance present in the air is known

4 PPE validation and training

Training
Training
PPE Validation
Remember: PPE is only effective if worn and used properly.

CONSEQUENCES OF INADEQUATE PPE

Productivity drops
Risk of personal injury to the worker
Risk of legal disputes for companies
Compensation claims from the injured party

SOLUTION

Choosing the right PPE, because it must be comfortable even when worn for long periods and must be suitable for wearing with other PPE such as ear muffs, safety glasses, helmets, etc.
When it comes to a sealed facepiece, the choice of PPE must be made based on each user. The fit test is used to verify that the facepiece fits the wearer's face.
Training on how to wear PPE, the health risks of not wearing it properly, how to use it, and how to store and maintain it if it's reusable. There are two types of maintenance: preventative and repair.
There are essentially two risk factors: the lack of oxygen and the presence of the contaminant.

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INFORMATION GUIDE ON THE LEVEL OF PROTECTION

DUST, FUMES AND FOG

If you know the concentration of the contaminant

concentration up to 4 x TLV use an FFP1 filter facepiece or half mask with the P1 filter
concentration up to 12 x TLV use an FFP2 filter facepiece or half mask with a P2 filter
concentration up to 50 x TLV use an FFP3 filter facepiece or half mask with a P3 filter
concentrations above 50 x TLV and below 200 x TLV use a full face mask with P3 filter

If you don't know the concentration of the contaminant

Of all the contaminants, select the one with the lowest TLV
TLV = 10 mg/m3 use an FFP1 filter facepiece or half mask with a P1 filter
TLV > 0.1 mg/m3 use an FFP2 filter facepiece or half mask with a P2 filter
TLV < 0.1 mg/m3 use an FFP3 filter facepiece or half mask with a P3 filter

If used correctly following a wearing test, the reduction in exposure to suspended particles is
4 times with an FFP1 respirator
12 times with an FFP2 respirator
50 times with an FFP3 respirator

FFP1 RESPIRATORS
To be used when the nominal protection factor is FPN 4
Typical applications are low concentrations of fine dust and oil- or water-based aerosols, usually produced during sanding, drilling and cutting operations.

FFP2 RESPIRATORS
To be used when the nominal protection factor is FPN 12
Typical applications are modest concentrations of fine dust and oil- or water-based aerosols, usually produced during work with plaster, cement, sanding and in the presence of wood dust.

FFP3 RESPIRATORS
To be used when the nominal protection factor is FPN 50
Typical applications are high concentrations of fine dust and oil- or water-based aerosols, usually produced when using hazardous dust in the pharmaceutical industry or when working with biological agents and fibers.

GAS AND VAPORS

The first thing to know is the type of substance I need to protect myself from:
Organic Vapors
B Inorganic gases
And acid gases
B Ammonia and derivatives

The concentration of the contaminant is less than 10 x TLV use a half mask or filtering facepiece

The concentration of the contaminant is greater than 10 x TLV use a full face mask

contaminant concentration less than 1000 ppm choose a class 1 filter
contaminant concentration less than 5000 ppm choose a class 2 filter
Contaminant concentration less than 10,000 ppm choose a class 3 filter

If there are more than one substance category, choose a combined filter, for example ABE.
To choose the right protection filter you can contact our technician via the link

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