RESPIRATORY HEALTH & AIR QUALITY 4. Check: Empowering the user


While supervision focuses on employer oversight, regular checks are the responsibility of the wearer. Pre-use inspections and fit checks are essential to confirm that equipment is clean, intact, and functioning correctly and should be performed every time RPE is used, not just at the start of a shift. Under pressure, this step is often rushed, skipped or overlooked, yet it is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent failure.


5. Maintain: Protecting the equipment


Cleaning and maintenance are crucial to ensuring that reusable RPE remains effective and can ultimately extend the life of the equipment.


Many maintenance functions can be carried out by workers on a day-to-day basis (charging batteries, replacing clogged or saturated filters, rough cleaning). However, for more involved steps, having people trained in the correct procedures is necessary to eliminate the potential for damaged or missing components in RPE.


Some manufacturers will offer the option of outsourced service and maintenance, and whilst this may be more expensive, it can help ensure that legal requirements are being met without the need for additional staff members.


Poor maintenance not only compromises safety but also leads to higher costs through reduced equipment lifespan and increased downtime. Clear procedures, trained personnel, and accessible facilities are essential.


6. Record: Demonstrating compliance


Records play a crucial role in both management and compliance. Fit testing, training, and maintenance records provide evidence that systems are in place and working effectively. They also support continuous improvement, helping organisations identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for refinement.


7. Store: The overlooked link


Improper storage can quickly undo the benefits of cleaning and maintenance, yet it is frequently overlooked. Guidance on correct storage should be provided by the manufacturer, and this typically advises on how to prevent


exposure of the equipment to ‘extreme’ conditions such as high and low temperatures, UV light or excess humidity.


Appropriate storage should seek to achieve three key goals:


• Prevent damage or deterioration of RPE whilst in storage


• Prevent contamination and cross-contamination • Ensure easy access to the RPE between shifts and after breaks


Balancing both cleanliness and accessibility is key, particularly as the most significant source of contamination in the storage area is often the RPE itself if it is not cleaned properly before storing. Once a storage facility becomes soiled, there is the potential for transfer to other parts of the RPE, or other PPE, that can lead to exposure through inhalation, skin absorption or open wounds or secondary exposures such as ingestion due to poor hygiene.


8. Dispose: Managing the end of life


This applies not only to the RPE itself but also to individual replaceable components such as filters, which do not simply become ordinary waste at the end of life. In many cases, they may contain hazardous substances and must be disposed of accordingly. Reputable manufacturers of electronic RPE equipment such as Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) may design equipment with end-of-life in mind, for example, to consider the need to disassemble equipment to separate plastics from electronics. In some cases, manufacturers may also offer return schemes for responsible recycling to fulfil their regulatory obligations.


A SHIFT IN THINKING


The message for health and safety professionals is clear: RPE provision should not be viewed as a procurement exercise but as an ongoing process. RPE has a crucial role in safeguarding workers from chronic and even fatal respiratory conditions. However, if the equipment is to be effective, it is essential that it is managed, maintained, and used over time.


www.draeger.com https://www.draeger.com/en_me/Safety/Respiratory-Protective-Equipment


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