They use them to lower the risk of getting occupational diseases by exposure to harmful substances, dust, or gases in the working environment. No matter if you are an everyday construction labourer, a nurse, or just a man who works in a surrounding that poses a threat to respiratory organs, it is crucial to know and apply the necessary RPE. From this guide, you will learn more about RPE, the various types, how to select the appropriate type of RPE and understand medical mask grades.
What is respiratory protective equipment (RPE)?
Respiratory protective equipment means any protective devices used with the view of avoiding inhaling a toxin in the air. It shields the individual from coming into contact with such compounds by either masking or clearing the air before getting in touch with the lungs of the wearer. There are several kinds of RPE; they are filtering facepiece respirators, half masks, full face masks, and powered air-purifying respirators.
Purpose of Respiratory Protective Equipment
The use of RPE is required when the atmospheric concentration of a hazardous substance is over the permissible exposure limit or when the substance is lethal within a short span of exposure. RPE in Australia has its working regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017. RPE can be used by employers to protect employees who carry out work at health risk in their working environment, and employers are under obligation to evaluate the risks of their working environment and apply suitable control measures.
There are many different varieties of respiratory equipment because there are various dangers and difficulties in the work environment.
- Disposable Respirators: Filtering Facepieces (FFPs) – They are an assortment of light facial masks that cover the facial cavity with a filter that eliminates aerosols. They’re called surgical masks, but not all of them qualify as RPE. FFPs are intended for use in situations when a worker is exposed to solid or liquid-containing airborne particles and usually relate to situations that involve droplets or spray.
- Half Masks: These touch the mouth and nose and are more commonly single-use only. They protect from solid or liquid particulate matter and are offered in various filter classes. Half masks are for short-term use, as they are not made to cover the face from high-risk substances or chemical vapours.
- Eye Shield Mask: They are masks that completely cover the face of a wearer and have what you can call an eye shield. There are disposable and reusable types of full-face masks, recommended for use to prevent exposure to assets that will take a longer time in completing the task and/or where there is a high concentration of these contaminants. They afford protection from solid or liquid bodies, gases, and vapours as well.
- Positive Pressure Aircraft Respirator (PPAR): (These include a respirator with a hood or headgear covering and a face shield on the helmet that aerosols clean air to the operator.) PAPRs should be worn where the concentration of the hazardous substance is high and are advantageous to those who must relieve themselves from using RPE often.
Medical Mask Grades Brief Analysis
Surgical and medical masks are intended to minimise exposure to the wearer and other people to droplets that harbour pathogens. In Australia, medical masks are classified according to the Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1716:2012. The three main grades of medical masks are:
- Single-use surgical mask: This kind of mask is only disposable and presents an elementary barrier against pathogenic agents. Surgical masks usually have three layers: the filter layer for respiratory protection against droplets and little aerosols.
- P2 respirator mask: P2 masks are more effective than surgical masks: they provide at least 94% protection from airborne particles. These are meant to be close-fitting around the face so that they form a good barrier to the ingress of particulates and afford protection against substances such as dust and some forms of biological hazards.
- P3 respirator mask: This is designed with high filtering capacity, P3, which filters at least 99.97% of the airborne particles. Usually, they are worn in the position of being potentially exposed to airborne irritants and can be worn in occupational environments such as health care, agriculture, and mining.
Selection Criterion of Respiratory Protective Equipment
To select the right RPE, look at the type of hazard that may be present, the concentration, and the period of exposure. Contact your employer or safety professional to get advice on which type of respirator to use in that particular situation.
Conclusion
Personal protective equipment in the form of respiratory equipment is one very important factor of workplace safety, and it has the important function of protecting workers from the harmful effects of toxic materials. As such, learning the different types of RPE available, how to apply them, when, and in what medical mask class ensures you and your fellow workers are adequately protected from any respiratory risks. Equally important, last but by no means least, is that every organisation should provide its work environment as safe and healthy as possible.
