You may not work in an environment where you need a N95 Particulate Respirator; however, in the United States, there are an estimated 5 million workers in 1.3 million workplaces that are required to wear them. Because respirators are recommended by OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard to control occupational diseases caused by breathing air contaminated with gases, vapors, fumes, sprays, mists, sprays, fogs, smokes, and harmful dusts, there are many important things to understand about them. OSHA requires Fit Testing for all employees that are required to wear light-fitting respirators; workers should be allowed time to learn how to properly put them on and know that they have the proper fit.
A respirator is a Personal Protective Equipment device that is worn on the face and covers at least the mouth and nose. They protect the worker in two ways, one by removing contaminants from the air- Air Purifying Respirators. Second, Air Supplying Respirators protect by supplying clean, breathable air from another source.
One of the most commonly used NIOSH-approved respirators is the N95 respirator. The approved regulation defines the N95 as a filter class that removes at least 95% of airborne particles during “worse case” testing using “most penetrating” sized particles during testing. Filters meeting such criteria are given a rating of 95.
Here are the different types of respirators:
Filter Class Description
N95, N99, N100: Filters at least 95%, 99%, 99.97% of airborne particles. Not resistant to oil.
R95, R99, R100: Filters at least 95%, 99%, 99.97% of airborne particles. Somewhat resistant to oil.
P95, P99, P100: Filters at least 95%, 99%, 99.97% of airborne particles. Strongly resistant to oil.
HE (High Efficiency Particulate Air): Filters at least 99.97% of airborne particles. For use on PAPRs only. PAPRs use only HE filters.
Two of the most common styles of respirators are the cup style (preformed type) and flat fold type. The elastomeric respirators have a molded facepiece, which uses replaceable filtering cartridges.
If an employer has told you that respiratory protection is needed because of inhaling hazards from airborne particles, it is important that you understand the importance of selecting comfortable, well-fitting PPE that you will be wearing 8 to 12 hours per day. Although they furnish the PPE, it is up to you to be sure that you are compliant and inspect your protective equipment prior to wearing it every day.
For anyone that has to wear Personal Protective Equipment, it’s a common fact that if it isn’t comfortable, it is going to be harder to wear it for a full day’s shift. When deciding on a respirator, it is important to find the right type that fits around the face. The type of exposure in the workplace determines the level of protection that is needed.
OSHA requires Fit Testing for all employees. Workers must have time to learn how to put the respirator on the right way, and be sure that it fits. This Fit Testing must be done before the initial use of the respirator and worn at least five minutes before the test is done. There are Respirators Fit Test Supplies specifically for this purpose. User Seal Checks are when the wearer inhales and exhales several times, to be sure the respirator will collapse slightly when inhaling and expand slightly upon exhaling. If air leaks out between the face and the respirator, it is not a good facial fit. A User Seal Check does not substitute for a Fit Test.
When choosing the right respirator for the job, you will need:
Soft, foam nose pads; Bendable nose bands; Wide adjustable head straps – they work better than the thin ones that dig into skin or get tangled in hair.
A dual-exhalation valve helps direct exhaled air down and away from face to reduce fogging glasses. If you have changed any facial structure, due to loss of weight or surgery, a new type of respirator may be necessary to ensure a good fit. Respirators will not fit properly over beards.
Be sure to check the label for NIOSH-approved equipment, and read all warnings and instructions that come with the respirator. Your choice should be based on contaminants, workplace concentrations, and other site-specific conditions. The workplace should be compliant with Federal, State, and Local regulations on worker safety, including, but not limited to OSHA regulations. For more information, please go to the NIOSH /NPPTL (National Personal Protective Laboratory) website.
Source: CDC/NIOSH
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