Respiratory protective equipment is designed to protect the wearer from hazards such as work activities that may result in harmful substances contaminating the air with gas or dust. It may also be needed in work environments where oxygen levels are low, such as in confined spaces.
RPE must always be adequate for the hazard, ensuring that the wearer is suitably protected for the environment and able to work freely without any additional risks caused by wearing the respiratory protection. To ensure this, you need an understanding of the hazardous substance present and the amount in the air, the form of the substance such as gas or vapour, the type of work that is being carried out and any specific requirements the wearer may have, such as they need to wear glasses.
There are many different RPE types designed to protect the wearer from a variety of hazards, suit a variety of work situations and match the specific requirements of the wearer. Respiratory protective equipment is available in different sizes to allow for the facial differences of workers. This includes gender, ethnicity, build and many other factors, meaning that one size of RPE will not fit everyone.
A key component of any respirator is the respiratory filter. Filters are available for particles, vapours and gases and are an intrinsic part of the respiratory device. They are also available separately, so that they can be changed on a reusable respirator.
To ensure that your respiratory protection works correctly you should make sure that it fits and is suitable for both the task being performed and the wearer performing the task. In order to achieve this, you must conduct face fit testing for each wearer of RPE and for each piece of RPE that they will use. The wearers must also be supervised and trained to use the RPE.
Ready to book your Face Fit Testing with a Fit2Fit Accredited fit tester? Contact Ultimo Safety on 0208 154 7310 or fill out our form here.
