The 3 Most Effective
Forms of Respiratory Protection -
When it comes to choosing the best, most effective types of
respiratory protection, there’s a lot to consider. You have to think about the
types of protection, what situations they work in and the advantages and
disadvantages. It’s also important to consider the latest and greatest
respiratory technology as well as the individuals using the respiratory
protection. Of course, there’s a lot of information about respiratory
protection available, from consumer advertisements to government regulations,
so start with the basic information contained below.
Why and When are Respirators Used?
A respirator
is a device that is made to protect the user from inhaling any harmful
materials. They are used by many industries to protect employees, including the
military, private and public industries. The respirators are used anytime a
harmful material is present in the air, whether it’s dust, vapors, fumes, gases
or any other dangerous material. There are two major types of respirators, the air
purifying and the air-supplied types, described in more detail below. The
situation you need protection in determines the type of respirator, which is
appropriate to use.
Disposable Respirators
Disposable respirators are the simplest form of respiratory
protection, offering a cheap way to protect workers from air particles like
dust or mold. These respirators belong to the air-purifying category of
respirators, meaning that the air you’re breathing is taken through a particulate
respirator as you breath in. Most disposable respirators filter out at least
95% of harmful airborne particles. When using a disposable respirator, make
sure it fits properly and do a user seal check to make sure no air is escaping.
Disposable respirators must be thrown out when they become clogged as they
cannot be cleaned or disinfected.
Reusable Respirators
Many reusable respirators are available which also fall into
the air-purifying category. These respirators allow you to clean and disinfect
them, using them again and again to filter airborne particles. Different types
of reusable respirators are available which filter the air in different ways.
Mechanical filters retain the particulate matter as it passes through the
filter material. Chemical cartridge filters use a cartridge to remove gases,
vapors and other volatile compounds. When the filter is full and used up, you
can simply replace the cartridge with a new one. Powered air-purifying
respirators take contaminated air and then remove the contaminants. The air is
then supplied to the user using a fan or other mechanical solution.
Air-Supplied Respirators
An air-supplied solution or a
“Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus” (SCBA) consists of three
components. A tank contains the air, a pressure regulator is included to
regulate airflow and an inhalation connection carries air from the tank to your
lungs via a facemask or mouthpiece. The many types of SCBA devices work in
different ways, some supplying a constant airflow and others providing it on
demand. Theses devices work in high altitudes, closed environments and other
dangerous environments where the oxygen supply is insufficient.
Respiratory Protection for Children
While children aren’t typically placed into dangerous work
conditions, situations can still happen where a child needs additional
respiratory protection. Children are more susceptible to mold and other air
contaminants. Sometimes a child might have a disease where their immune system
is weakened and they’re especially susceptible to contracting a disease. Many
existing respiratory solutions don’t work for children as they’re simply too
large for small faces or don’t provide a sufficient seal. A few solutions
exist. The TOTOBOBO mask fits small children and adults, is cleanable and
blocks viruses and other airborne contaminants. It’s important to find a small
mask which provides a good seal all around the face. Remember that surgical
masks aren’t typically an acceptable solution, as they don’t provide a true
seal around the face.
Respiratory protection is a must in dangerous environments. If
you’re around mold or dust, a simple disposable respirator might work but as
the contaminants accumulate you need more sufficient protection. Find the right
mask to take care of the situation you find yourself in, making sure it fits,
seals and provides a sufficient airflow no matter where you are.
John Gower is a writer for NerdWallet,
a site dedicated to helping consumers find online deals.
Free feel to visit hk.totobobo.com
