Choosing the right respirator is key. No matter how well made your respirator is, it can’t filter out hazards that it’s not designed for.
Selecting the best respirator for your needs
Step one – Know your Hazard Type
You’ll need to select equipment based on whether your work environment contains a particulate hazard (particles such as hazardous dusts or fibers), a gas or vapour hazard, or both types of hazards.
Generally, you protect against particulate hazards with a filter and against gas and vapours with a cartridge. If both types of hazards are present, combination cartridges are an option that can filter out both particles and gas or vapours.
Step Two – Determine the level of protection needed – What is a P1, P2 & P3 filter rating?
Particulate filters are rated according to the AS/NZS1716, the Australia/New Zealand standard for respiratory protective devices. These rating levels are P1, P2 & P3.
A P1 particulate filter protects against mechanically generated particles and filters at least 80% of airborne particles. It is suitable for relatively large particles generated by mechanical processes like crushing, grinding, drilling, sanding, and cutting including silica, wood dust and mists from spraying.
A P2 particulate filter protects against mechanically and thermally generated particles and filters at least 94% of airborne particles. It is suitable for relatively small particles generated by processes like crushing, grinding, drilling, sanding, and cutting including silica, wood dust and mists from spraying. Also protects against certain biological particles like TB, SARS & COVID-19.
A P3 filter is the highest efficiency particulate filter class, filtering at least 99.95% of airborne particles, and is used for particulates that are of high toxicity or at high concentrations. The benefit of this high efficiency filter can only be achieved on a full-face mask or head covering respirator system.
A P2 rated filter is generally suitable for most woodworking applications. A GP2 filter adds protection against welding fumes, ozone, polishing and grinding particles.
Step Three – Choose a respirator type
Once you’ve determined the level of protection needed, you can narrow down your choices to those respirators that can reduce the exposure.
Besides choosing equipment appropriate for your workshop’s types and levels of hazards, you must also consider compatibility with other required protective equipment, such as safety glasses and hard hats. Glasses and half face respirators, for example, may compete for space on the same part of the face — the bridge of the nose — so it’s vital to find equipment that fits together without causing either leakage around the respirator edges or loss of eye protection.
Comfort and ability to do the job are also important considerations; try to select respirators that are as lightweight and streamlined as possible. And keep in mind that people’s faces come in all shapes and sizes; you may need to select from a variety of models and sizes to find the best fitting respirator for you.
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