Personal Protective Equipment

Respiratory Protection

Respiratory protection falls into two major categories:

  • Air Purifying Respirators (APRs)
  • Atmosphere Supply Respirators
Air Purifying Respirators

Air-purifying respirators (APRs) work by removing gasses, vapors, aerosols (droplets and solid particles), or a combination of contaminants from the air through the use of filters, cartridges, or canisters. These respirators do not supply oxygen and therefore cannot be used in an atmosphere that is oxygen-deficient or immediately dangerous to life or health. The appropriate respirator for a particulate situation will depend on the environmental contaminant(s).

There are four basic types of APRs:

  • Filtering Facepiece Respirator (FFR)
    • Disposable (such as medical masks, N95 or KN95).
    • Covers the nose, mouth and chin.
    • Filters out particles such as dust, mist and fumes.
    • There are different efficiency levels expressed in percentages of particles filtered (95, 99, 100 efficiency levels)
    • Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFR) do not provide protection against gases and vapors.
    • A Fit Test is required for this respirator.
  • Elastomeric Half Facepiece Respirator
    • Reusable facepiece and replaceable canisters, cartridges or filters.
    • Can be used to protect against gases, vapors or particles, if equipped with the appropriate cartridge or filter.
    • Covers the nose and mouth.
    • A Fit Test is required for this respirator.
  • Elastomeric Full Facepiece Respirator
    • Reusable facepiece and replaceable canisters, cartridges, or filters.
    • Can be used to protect against gases, vapors, or particles, if equipped with the appropriate cartridge, canister or filter.
    • Provides eye protection.
    • More effective face seal than FFRs or elastomeric half facepiece respirators.
    • A Fit Test is required for this respirator.
  • Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR)
    • Reusable components and replaceable filters or cartridges.
    • Can be used to protect against gases, vapors, or particles, if equipped with the appropriate cartridge, canister or filter.
    • Battery powered with a blower that pulls air through the attached filters or cartridges.
    • Provides eye protection.
    • Low breathing resistance.
    • Loose-fitting PAPR does not require fit testing and can be used with facial hair.
    • Tight fitting PAPR requires a Fit Test.

The choice depends on the job task and facility.

The type of APR, the wearer breathing demand, and the concentration of airborne contaminants affect the service life of the APR. Follow the manufacturer’s specifications regarding the mask, filter, cartridges and other components.

Facial hair can prevent a good seal and fit of an APR. Workers who must use respiratory protection should be clean shaven; be mindful of hair growth that may affect effective sealing of the APR. An APR is only as good as its seal and its ability to filter out the contaminants it was designed to filter.

Atmosphere Supply Respirators

Atmosphere Supply Respirators supply clean air to the user in environments where half and full facepiece respirators cannot be used due to the atmosphere being oxygen-deficient or immediately dangerous to life and health.

There are two types of Atmosphere Supply Respirators:

  • Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) where the user breaths air from a compressed air container that the user carries with them.
  • Supplies Air Breathing Apparatus (SABA) where the user breaths air that is pumped to them through hoses fed from a compressor.

These respirators are generally used in foam applications or confined spaces. All workers using supplied air respirators will need additional specialized training prior to using the equipment.

Combination Filters and Cartridges

When more than one hazardous substance is present in the workplace; such as dust and glasses, combined filters or cartridges are appropriate for those hazards must be used. Combined filters and cartridges generally combine a mechanical filter (particulate) with a chemical filter (gas or vapor). This type of cartridge or filter is used with full and half piece respirators and is suitable for applications such as spray-painting, foam blowing and welding. Always check the Safe Work Practice or Safe Job Procedure for task-specific respiratory PPE.

Safe Work Practices

Do

  • Fit testing to be conducted annually and prior to initial use.
  • Train Workers carefully in the respirators use, care and limitations.
  • Ensure that reusable respirators are properly cleaned and disinfected after each shift, according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
  • Dispose of exhausted cartridges and masks in sealed bags or containers.
  • Keep new, unused filters separate from old, used filters.
  • Store masks and cartridges in a sealed bag.
  • Enforce respirator use.
  • Replace filters when breathing becomes difficult or at the intervals indicated by the manufacturer.

Don’t

  • Use for protection against materials that are toxic in small amounts.
  • Use with materials that are highly irritating to the eyes unless using a full facepiece respirator.
  • Use with gases that can’t be detected by odor or throat or nose irritation.
  • Use with gases not effectively halted by chemical cartridges regardless of concentration (read the cartridge label).
  • Use respirators or masks if the serviceability is in doubt.
  • Use APRs where oxygen content in the air is less than 16 percent or 18 kilopascals (partial pressure or greater).

For further information, see Applicable Legislation for your region. 

In this section: