FEATURE
UNMASKING THE PROBLEM
The need for face-fit testing is an often overlooked aspect of RPE. Sarah Leake, Health and Safety Consultant at Southalls, explores this topic.
Occupational dust exposure has been a significant area of focus in the health and safety industry this year, with IOSH’s ‘No Time To Lose’ campaign raising awareness of the dangers of silica dust, which contributes to the deaths of 1,000 workers in the UK each year.
Employees should be protected from breathing in harmful substances such as dust particulates, mist, vapour, gases or fumes that may be generated as a result of certain work activities.
SO, WHAT WORKS? Respiratory protective equipment (RPE), is designed to protect the wearer from breathing in harmful substances and can also be used to protect the wearer when in an oxygen deficient atmosphere when other controls are not sufficient on their own.
The use of RPE should be considered after you have taken all other reasonably practicable measures to prevent or control exposure. RPE is the last line of protection and can only protect the wearer if it is used correctly.
TOO MUCH CHOICE With such a wide array of RPE available, such as disposable, half face or full face masks, the different filter types and the different scenarios in which RPE may be used, a large proportion of business owners remain unsure as to which masks should be used by employees, maintenance workers and contractors.
Many business owners are unaware of the need to ensure masks fit correctly and overlook the need to carry out face fit testing with individual users and train the individual on how to use their mask correctly.
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RPE needs to be fit for purpose, protecting against the right hazard, to reduce exposure to the wearer but it must also be suitable for the task and environment in which it will be worn.
For low-risk environments, where the task is less hazardous, shorter in duration and undertaken on a less frequent basis, a disposable mask may be suitable. However, if the RPE is one of the control measures, to reduce the risk of exposure, it must fit correctly and a fit test undertaken.
STEP BY STEP So, what steps can be taken to ensure masks provide adequate levels of protection for the wearer and the task they are completing? This is where the completion of comprehensive risk assessments and face fit testing plays a vital role. Here are the main areas to be aware of:
Risk Assessments To establish whether a mask is fit for purpose, a comprehensive risk assessment must be conducted to establish the following:
• What work is being undertaken.
• What harmful substances may be generated from the work activity.
• The environment the wearer will be working in
• If the mask meet the specific requirements of the wearer ie are they clean shaven, do they wear glasses, does the mask impair their visibility and can the wearer move freely.
Choosing the Correct Mask The risk assessment will help to identify the type of mask to be worn to adequately protect employees from any potential harmful substances.
Will the mask reduce exposure
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