selecting rpe

Mike Slater

Respiratory Protection

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RPE

Air purifying

Negative pressure

AerosolGas /

Vapour

Air assisted

AerosolGas /

Vapour

Air supplied

SCBA Compressed air fed Air hose

Air supplied – where an independent air supply is provided

RPE

Air purifying

Negative pressure

AerosolGas /

Vapour

Air assisted

AerosolGas /

Vapour

Air supplied


Air purifying – where the ambient air is passed through a filter

RPE

Air purifying

Negative pressure

AerosolGas /

Vapour

Air assisted

AerosolGas /

Vapour

Air supplied


Air purifying devices should NOT be used when

< 19% oxygen

Concentrations unknown

Concentration immediately dangerous to life and health

Respirator Selection

Equipmentperformance User

Task Other PPE

Selecting Respiratory Protection

1. Can sufficient oxygen be guaranteed?

Sufficient Oxygen?

Air purifying devices should not be used where the oxygen concentration is less than 19%

.

Sufficient Oxygen?

Where the oxygen concentration is less than 19% air supplied equipment will be needed.


2. Identify the contaminants

The filter needed will depend on the what the containants are

Airborne Contaminants

Aerosol *

Dust Fume Mist

Gaseous

Vapour Gas

*Aerosols are particles suspended in the air

Filter Types (Europe)Substance Filter

TypeColour

Particulates P White

Organic gases & vapours (BP >65C) A Brown

Organic gases & vapours (BP <65C) AX Brown

Inorganic gases / vapours (but not carbon monoxide)

B Grey

Acid gases E Yellow

Ammonia K Green

Mercury Hg/P3 Red-white

Oxides of nitrogen NO/P3 Blue-white

Other specified substances SX Violet or

violet-white

With gas filters the filter class is really about how long the filter will last

They are not really about the concentration they will protect against

Respirator filter selection guides are available from suppliers such as

3Mshttp://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/738488O/filters-for-reusable-respirators-selector.pdf

Scott Safetyhttps://www.scottsafety.com/en/emea/DocumentandMedia1/Pro2000_Brochure_English_72dpi.pdf

If the contaminant is a gasand

• It doesn’t have good warning properties

• Concentration > 10% of Occupational Exposure limit

air supplied equipment will be needed


3. Determine the concentration of the contaminant(s)


4. Identify acceptable concentration and determine Assigned Protection Factor (APF)

What is "acceptable” inside the respirator ?

Minimum APF = Ambient Airborne Concentration

Acceptable Exposure Conc.

APF – Assigned Protection Factor

“Acceptable exposure” will be the Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) for the substance of concern

To ensure greater safety use a fraction of the OEL

Occupational Exposure Limits

Example

xyz dust Concentration 0.5 mg/m3

Exposure standard 0.1 mg/m3

Required minimum PF = 0.5 / 0.1 = 5

Half face piece respirator (P1, P2 or P3 filter)

Assigned Protection Factor (APF)

Based on protection achieved in real use

Applies to filter/facepiece combination

Assigned Protection Factor (APF)

Assumes:

correct fitting

good maintenance

Protection Factors are reduced by

incorrect fitting

contamination

poor maintenance


5. Evaluate compatibility with

User

Task

Other PPE

Respirator Selection

Equipmentperformance User

Task Other PPE

RPE Selection - Human factors

Medical fitness

Face - shape and size

Facial hair

Spectacles

Comfort

RPE Selection - Task Factors

Physical effort

Length of time RPE to be worn

Mobility

Visibility

Communication

Confined Spaces

Compatibility with other PPE

Selecting Respiratory Protection1. Can sufficient oxygen be

guaranteed?

2. Identify contaminant

3. Determine contaminant concentration

4. Determine required APF

5. Assess compatibility with User

Task

Other PPE

Air purifying devices should only be used for gases and vapours if:

there is sufficient oxygen available

the gas has good warning properties

concentration is < 10 x OEL

Filtering Facepiece

APFs (Europe)

FFP1 = 4

FFP2 = 10

FFP3 = 20

Half Mask

APFs (Europe)

P1 = 4

P2 = 10

P3 = 20

Full Face Mask

Negative pressure Power assistedAPF up to 40 APF up to 40

Powered Full Face Mask

Powered Hoods and Visors

APF = 40

Air Supplied

Depending on design, APF = 40 to 2000

Source: 3M Australia Pty Limited – reproduced with permission

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg53.htm

Source: HSG53

selecting rpe

Health & Medicine