Dust Masks

Modern personal protective equipment (RPE) perfectly protect the respiratory tract from the ingress and negative effects of hazardous particles of different fractions. In everyday life, it is dust, volatile compounds that appear as a result of construction, finishing and other works where powder substances, building mixtures, pesticides are used. Respirators are also effectively used in industries - in the metallurgical, chemical, woodworking industries.

Respirators belong to personal protective equipment and are divided into several categories: household, medical, industrial. They are divided according to the types of arrangement of the constituent parts and the filter element, which:

• adjoins the half mask;
• located directly in the half mask.

They are also divided according to the degree of application - reusable (RPG-67, RU 67), disposable ("Petal", "Kama"). Classified by purpose:

• gas and dust protection;
• gas mask;
• anti-dust.

In a number of specific situations arising at construction sites, in production shops, the use of respirators as a RPE is more justified than the issuance of other personal protective equipment to workers - gas masks. Therefore, they enjoy a certain popularity among customers.

Respirators in a broad sense are lightweight personal protective equipment. They effectively protect the respiratory tract and lungs in the event of dust formation:

• metal;
• woody;
• concrete;
• radioactive.

Any modern respirator against dust very reliably protects the respiratory tract, but due to the variety of models, it is necessary to use a respirator in accordance with the safety instructions developed at each individual enterprise. Working in such protective equipment is comfortable and safe. They have less resistance to breathing than gas masks and exert minimal mechanical pressure on the head area. Despite the obvious fact of reduced protective properties, the use of respirators in certain situations - at construction sites, production - is fully justified. The filtering part of respirators purifies the air through filtration. That is, depending on the type of RPE, it passes through the perchlorovinyl fibers or fine-fiber materials.

Personal protective equipment is resistant to aggressive environments, alkali, acid. They are endowed with hydrophobicity, resistance to high temperatures - up to 60 ° C, the property of high filtration to all existing aerosols. Also on the list of advantages of modern respirators are complete autonomy, in terms of protection from respiratory allergies through filtration, the presence of electrostatic charges to improve the efficiency of air purification, including from the influence of aerosols. The choice of respirators depends on the working conditions or the established regulations indicated in the safety instructions.

Among the large number of personal protective equipment, there are models which are in high demand among buyers - representatives of construction organizations, plants, factories.

• Respirator P-2. The model is made in the form of a conical half mask. A headband and filtering elements are provided - breathable polyurethane foam, a filtering material made of polymer fibers on a gauze substrate. In order to increase comfort, a nose clip and an obturator are provided. There is also an air outlet valve. It is used against various types of dust.

• Respirator U-2K. Personal protective equipment consists of a half mask with a built-in filter and valves for entry and exhalation. Comfortable use is achieved due to the adjustable headboard, nose clip. It is used against various types of dust, as well as pesticides, non-toxic vapors and gases.

It makes sense to briefly list several models of respirators, used in different industries, and describe the specifics and design features that provide respiratory protection.

• RU 60M. Gas-dust and aerosol protection model. The half mask is equipped with an air valve. There are two filter cartridges. Gas and dust respirator has effective protection against volatile toxic substances, gases, fine dust, most pesticides, hazardous vapors.

• Respirator "Alina-AV" with an exhalation valve. Several special layers provided in the filter mask absorb most aerosols, gasoline, carbon disulfide vapors, and pesticides. It can be used in everyday life, in production to protect the respiratory tract from plant pollen, exhaust gases.

• Lola anti-aerosol respirator. In the presence of a filter mask, an aluminum nasal plate, plastic spacers, regulating elements. Protects the lungs from volatile vapors, compounds, as well as liquid, solid, undissolved elements. Used when working with agrochemicals, non-volatile pesticides.

• Reusable respirator Jeta Safery 5500 with filters, made of soft hypoallergenic material. Provides comfortable working conditions and reliable protection against hazardous volatile compounds, organic gases and vapors. It can be used at home and at work. Complies with European standards.

• Respirator NPZ-0111 with valve, dustproof. Effective protection of the respiratory tract from mist with harmful compounds, smoke, construction dust. The filter material is endowed with the property of electrostatic, mechanical filtration, which ensure easy breathing during operation. The inner layer is made of hypoallergenic material. The exhalation valve provides comfort by removing excess moisture.

• "Kama" 200. Consists of a comfortable half mask with a perchlorovinyl filter element and an obturator. Comfortable use is enhanced by a nose clip and two shoulder straps. Disposable dust mask. Effectively protects the respiratory tract from construction, mining, silicate dust.

Respirators are purchased and used depending on the specifics of the work being carried out, when workers deal with hazardous volatile compounds, pesticides, pesticides, undissolved elements, as well as in conditions of relative dustiness, gas pollution of the room.

In normal cases, when all of the above does not apply, you can use personal protective equipment such as "petal"... In other circumstances, it is recommended to wear a particulate respirator with removable filters. If you have to work with paints and varnishes, you should use RPE devices with gas mask, anti-aerosol filter elements.

If you have to work with cement mortars - to hammer, drill, chisel a wall, as well as mix building mixtures, you must use a respirator that is able to trap fine dust fractions in the air. In woodworking (for example, sanding parts), disposable respirators can be used.

When buying, it is necessary to check the integrity of the personal protective equipment and the quality. The presence of external signs - uneven stitching of the seam, accessories that are not credible, indicates that the product was manufactured with certain violations. In a good respirator, the mask should fit snugly to the face, ensure reliable tightness and be conveniently fixed with adjusting elements.

Breathing in a new respirator should be free, and the product during the fitting process should not cause general discomfort. It is also recommended to read the instructions for use, where the purpose of the personal protective equipment is indicated. For example, a loose filter will be useless when working with bulk materials, and too dense will make breathing difficult. Therefore, the best choice should be based on specific criteria and requirements for the RPE.

In the process of choosing a respirator, the above recommendations should be taken into account. It is also useful to take care of purchasing spare filter elements.

For information on how to choose the right respirator, see the next video.