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RESPIRATORY RESPIRATORY PROTECTIONPROTECTION

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Why Respiratory Protection is Important?

1. Ingestion

2. Skin Absorption

3. Inhalation

Because many substances which are health hazards can become airborne, knowing how to protect yourself is very important.

Hazardous materials can enter your body in three ways:

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The Breathing ProcessWhenever you take a breath, oxygen rich air is  taken into your body through your mouth and nose,   goes down your windpipe and into your lungs.

In your lungs, there are tiny air sacs called alveoli.

These delicate air sacs then transfer the oxygen that is in the air into your blood. At the same time the oxygen is being absorbed into your bloodstream, carbon dioxide is being transferred from your bloodstream into the air sacs.

When you breathe out, you are ridding your body of gaseous wastes.

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Lung DamageInhaling hazardous materials damages the delicate structure of your lungs.

Lungs that have been damaged are more susceptible to respiratory diseases. These diseases often cannot be cured, and eventually lead to death. In short, respiratory protection is serious business.

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Potential Hazards

Dusts Dusts are formed whenever solid material is broken down into tiny particles. Dusts are often produced during sanding and grinding operations

Vapors Vapors are substances that are created when a solid or liquid material evaporates. Materials that evaporate easily at room temperature include paint thinner, solvents, and gasoline.

Fogs Fogs are vapors which have condensed into tiny airborne particles or droplets. An example of a hazardous fog would be an insect fogger used to rid industrial and residential areas of ticks and fleas.

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Mists & Sprays Mists and sprays are very small droplets of liquid material suspended in the air. They are often produced by spray and coating operations.

Gases Gases are materials that become airborne at room temperature. Gases may have an odor, but many do not. Some gases can be seen, but again, others cannot. Gases may be heavier than air, or lighter than air, but in either case, can travel for great distances undetected.

Fumes Fumes can occur whenever a metal, plastic, or polymer is subjected to a high heat during such processes as welding and soldering operations

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Types of Respirators

2. Atmosphere-supplying Respirators

supply clean air directly to the user from a source other than the air surrounding the user

1. Air Purifying Respirators

have filters, cartridges, or canisters that remove contaminants from the air by passing the ambient air through the air-purifying element before it reaches the user

There are two major categories of respirators:

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Types of Respirators

2. Atmosphere-Supplying Respirators These types of respirators include:

- Airline Respirators;- Emergency Escape Breathing Apparatus; and- Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).

1. Air Purifying Respirators These types of respirators include:

- Air Purifying Disposable Particulate Masks;

- Air Purifying Half Mask Respirators; - Air Purifying Full Face Mask

Respirators; - Gas Masks; and - Powered Air Purifying Respirators.

There are two major categories of respirators:

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Three Kinds of Air-purifying Respirators

1. Particulate Respirators2. Combination Respirators3. Gas & Vapor Respirators

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Three Kinds of Air-purifying Respirators

1. Particulate Respirators - capture particles in the air, such as dusts, mists, and fumes;

- do not protect against gases or vapors;- generally become more effective as

particles;- accumulate on the filter and plug spaces

between the fibers; - filters should be replaced when user finds it

difficult to breath through them

2. Combination Respirators- are normally used in atmospheres that

contain hazards of both particulates and gases

- have both particulate filters and gas/vapor filters;

-  may be heavier

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Three Kinds of Air-purifying Respirators

3. Gas & Vapor Respirators are normally used when there are only hazardous gases and vapors in the air; -use chemical filters (called cartridges or canisters) to remove dangerous gases or vaporsl;- do not protect against airborne particles;- are made to protect against specific gases or vapors;- provide protection only as long as the filter's absorbing capacity is not depleted;- the service life of the filter depends upon many factors and can be estimated in various ways.

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Three Kinds of Atmosphere-Supplying Respirators

1. Air-Supplied Respirators2. Combination Respirators3. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus

Employers are required to provide employees using atmosphere-supplying respirators (supplied air and self contained breathing apparatus) with breathing gases of high purity, and shall ensure that compressed air, compressed oxygen, liquid air, and liquid oxygen used for respiration is in accordance with the specifications of OSHA Standard 1910.134(i).

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Three Kinds of Atmosphere-Supplying Respirators

1. Air-Supplied Respirators - makes use of a hose to deliver clean, safe air  from a stationary source of compressed air;

- provides clean air for long periods of time and are light weight for the user;

- limits the range of user-mobility and may fail due to hose damage;

- also called  airline respirators;- are normally used when there are

extended work periods required in atmospheres that are not immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH)

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Three Kinds of Atmosphere-Supplying Respirators

2. Combination Respirators

- have an auxiliary self-contained air supply that can be used if the primary supply fails

- the self-contained portion can be small since it only needs to supply enough air for escape;

- can be used for entry into confined spaces

- are normally used when there are extended work periods required in atmospheres that are or may be immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH)

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Three Kinds of Atmosphere-Supplying Respirators

3. Self-Contained Breathing Respirators

- consists of a wearable, clean-air supply pack;

- do not restrict movement with a hose connection;

- the closed-circuit type can provide air up to 4 hours;

- the open-circuit type only provide air for 30 - 60 minutes

- are normally used when there is a short-time need to enter and escape from atmospheres which are or may be immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH)

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Inspection Before and After Use

Every time you use your respirator, you must first inspect it. To properly inspect a respirator before using it, you should look for:

- Cracks or chips in the faceplate; - Cracks or holes in the breathing tube or    airlines; - Worn or frayed straps; - Worn or damaged fittings; - Bent or corroded buckles; and - Dirty or improperly seated valves.

If you find anything wrong with your respirator, do not use it. Have it repaired or replaced immediately.

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Monitoring Your RespiratorAs you work, you must not only monitor the seal around your face, but you must also monitor how well your respirator is working.

You will know that your respirator is not working when:

- You can smell or taste the contaminant; - Breathing becomes difficult; - You become dizzy or sick feeling;

- The manufacturer's recommended service life   of the filters or cartridges expires; or

- The respirator is damaged.

WARNING: Never use or continue to use a respirator that is not working perfectly.

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Storing Respirators

If you are not going to use your respirator immediately, you will need to store it. To store your respirator, place it in a sealable plastic bag.

Be sure to store your respirator somewhere that is convenient for you, but is away from:

- Dust; - Sunlight; - Heat; - Extreme cold; - Moisture; and - Damaging chemicals.