Respiratory Protection
In workplaces where worker health and safety are threatened by airborne particles or gases, protection against respiratory hazards is essential. Respirators protect workers against the inhalation of harmful substances and come in several different styles, from the air-purifying type that remove contaminants from the inhaled air to the atmosphere-supplying type that provide the user with clean, breathable air from a source other than the immediate work environment. A half-mask respirator might be appropriate for one kind of worksite, while a full face-piece respirator would be necessary in another kind of environment.
OSHA requires an all-inclusive written respiratory protection program to ensure that employees are protected from airborne hazards. This program must articulate the essential components of the program, including the selection of the appropriate respirator based on the assessment of the airborne hazard, ensuring a proper fit for the individual wearing the respirator (including routine fit testing), and the maintenance (including the cleaning) of the respirator so that it performs reliably for the duration of time that the employee is in an environment where the respirator is necessary.
Products
More Information about Respiratory Protection
The effectiveness of respiratory protection can be greatly influenced by the type of respirator used and the conditions in which it is worn. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) tests and approves a variety of respirators that meet established quality standards and work well in many different industrial and healthcare settings. Air-purifying respirators filter out specific contaminants and use cartridges of varying filter efficiency and specificity. Some respirators, like the self-contained breathing apparatus, are suitable only for certain types of atmospheres—those that are oxygen-deficient or highly toxic. One of the most common types of respiratory protection is the filtering facepiece respirator (FFR), which is designed to be discarded when it becomes unsuitable for further use due to considerations of hygiene or excessive resistance.
3M facilitates a convenient method for employers to obtain medical evaluation of respirator wearers as required by the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 CFR 1910.134 with an OSHA respirator medical evaluation questionnaire.
FAQs
Are airline respirators NIOSH approved respirators and do they work in oxygen deficient atmospheres?
Yes, airline respirators are NIOSH-approved respirators and are suitable for use in oxygen-deficient atmospheres as they provide a continuous supply of breathable air from an external source.