PROTECTIVE CLOTHING & WORKWEAR
BREATHE EASY
Simon Field, a technical specialist at science-based technology company 3M, provides guidance for choosing between tight-fitting and powered air respirators.
When selecting any type of personal protective equipment (PPE), the main thing to remember is that it must be both adequate to protect against the hazards being faced and suitable for the individual, environment and task.
When it comes to respiratory protective equipment (RPE), one key decision is whether to use tight-fitting or powered air respirators. Both have their own benefits and requirements to consider.
For example, anyone who wears tight-fitting RPE must be clean shaven under the area of the seal, as stipulated by the Health and Safety Executive and manufacturers themselves.
For these devices to work, they must form an adequate seal with the user’s face. Beards, other facial hair and even stubble can affect this seal. If it leaks, the wearer risks breathing in unfiltered, potentially hazardous air, which could lead to respiratory health problems.
For employers, enforcing a shaving policy can be difficult, particularly as beards have made something of a fashion comeback in recent years.
However, there may be accepted reasons for some employees to wear beards, such as cultural or religious
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practices. These individuals should not use tight-fitting RPE.
Those who do must be regularly fit tested to ensure that the equipment can seal adequately to their face. This requires a competent tester, whether from within the company or an outside service provider.
Loose fitting powered air respirators require neither shaving policies nor fit testing. This is because, unlike tight-fitting respirators, respiratory protection is provided by a positive flow of clean filtered air.
Furthermore, their Assigned Protection Factor (APF) – a measure of the level of protection they offer – is often higher than that of tight-fitting reusable respirators, and almost always above that of disposables.
Powered air respirators also tend to feel cooler because of their positive air flow. The greater the comfort offered by the PPE, the more likely wearers are to use it properly, without wanting to constantly adjust or remove it. As well as keeping workers safe, this can increase productivity.
However, powered air respirators do require monthly record-keeping to keep track of any parts that need replacing, such as gaskets. Daily
checks are also necessary. The law requires companies to allocate someone to perform these checks from the moment powered air respirators are introduced.
Also, powered air respirators must be stored properly to avoid contamination and ensure easy charging. One option is to use lockers or other relatively dust-free areas. Some companies install bespoke lockers with special charging units inside. Others simply use a bench and charging units located outside of the factory or workshop. Of course, proper storage is required for any reusable RPE, including tight-fitting devices.
Another key consideration is training. This is vital for all RPE, and in fact all PPE. However, it is particularly important for powered air respirators, as these require extra care and attention. Training should cover the nature of the hazards workers may face; how and when to wear the equipment; and how to correctly store and maintain it.
In the end, whether to use tight- fitting or powered air respirators will depend on the employer’s unique requirements, so careful thought is needed.
www.3M.co.uk/safety www.tomorrowshs.com
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