Respiratory equipment is a vital and often necessary part of various applications. If your project site features an abundance of dust, fibres, fumes, or other potentially hazardous substances, you need to ensure that all personnel on your site are equipped with sufficient protection. As leading providers of respiratory equipment and other safety supplies, the team at Western Equipment knows how important it is to have sufficient protection. That is why we have provided some information to help managers and personnel understand when respiratory equipment is required and the different types of equipment that are available.

Read our safety equipment checklist for construction sites.

RESPIRATORY PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS

Appropriate respiratory equipment-such as respirators- is required wherever workers are exposed to hazardous substances in the air. This includes gases and vapours, dust particles, fibres, mists, fumes, and bioaerosols. Some respirators must also be fitted with the correct filter or cartridge to ensure proper function and effectiveness.

TYPES OF RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT

Each of the following types of respiratory equipment are specifically designed to offer reliable protection in certain applications and environments:

HALF & FULL RESPIRATORY MASKS

Half/full respiratory masks are non-disposable respirators that come equipped with two cartridges/filter pieces. Half respiratory masks cover the nose and mouth area while full respiratory masks cover the entire face. Both respirators create a facial seal and filter the air entering and exiting the user’s airway. Unlike disposable masks, half and full respiratory masks have cartridges or filters that can easily be changed to meet various safety requirements without needing to change the entire mask.

POWERED AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS

Powered air-purifying respirators are durable, lightweight, and efficient systems that are easy to use in high-stress environments. This type of respirator can be mounted on a belt to offer the user a higher level of convenience, comfort, and confidence while working. Since powered air-purifying respirators are engineered to be ergonomic, efficient, and easy to use, workers can get the job done faster while still feeling comfortable.

SINGLE-USE DISPOSABLE MASKS

Single-use disposable masks are designed to provide reliable protection against particles that are not oil-based. All single-use disposable masks come with an adjustable nose clip that allows for the user to custom fit the mask and produce a more secure seal. This type of respiratory mask is used by healthcare professionals and those who work in areas where they may be exposed to airborne pathogens (police, fire, paramedic, emergency response, etc.). They have also become more common due to COVID-19.

To learn more about our selection of respiratory equipment or to inquire about our other safety supplies, get in touch with the experts at Western Equipment. We can be reached through our online contact form and will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our products.