Selecting the right kind of PPE is important, for it can make the difference between a worker sustaining a life-changing injury (or worse) and going home safe at the end of their shift. For this reason, due care and consideration should be applied when deciding on what respiratory PPE to use in your business. While not exhaustive, we’ve put together a list of key questions you should be asking, let’s take a look…

Is it CE marked?

European regulations stipulate that all PPE should be CE marked (on the product, the packaging and any information included with the PPE). The CE mark signifies that the PPE is compliant with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation (EU) 2016/425. Under no circumstances should PPE be used if it does not carry the CE mark. 

Is it compatible with the work environment?

When selecting respiratory PPE, the working environment must be taken into consideration. For instance, is it potentially oxygen-deficient? Is it a corrosive environment? Is the atmosphere immediately dangerous to workers? What sort of permeation abilities do the relevant contaminants have? Is it a humid environment? Are the contaminants, or potential contaminants, physical, gaseous or liquid? These are just some of the questions that safety officers and procurement officers should ask when choosing respiratory PPE for their workers. 

Is it compatible with the wearer?

The physical characteristics of each individual wearer should be taken into account when assigning respiratory PPE to them. For example, do they have facial hair that might prevent a completely tight seal being formed between the respiratory equipment and their face? 

Does the worker have a medical condition (for example, asthma) that needs to be taken into account when giving them respiratory PPE to wear? 

Glasses or spectacles should also be taken into consideration, as they may prevent the respiratory PPE from forming a tight fit. 

Remember, an inadequate fit can reduce the effectiveness of respiratory PPE to being virtually useless, so it is very important that managers ensure their staff are wearing the PPE correctly and that it is of a proper fit. 

Is the worker able to wear the repository PPE comfortably? If the PPE is too cumbersome or chafing, then this may disencourage workers from wearing it, so it is important to take human factors such as these into account during the PPE selection process. 

Is the respiratory PPE compatible with the other PPE worn by your staff?

Is the worker required to wear other pieces of PPE in addition to the respiratory equipment? If so, then it is vital to make sure that one piece of PPE doesn’t interfere with the fit of the other, as this can potentially compromise the effectiveness of one or both items of PPE. 

Is it adequate for the work being undertaken?

The work being undertaken will obviously have a bearing on the type of PPE used. For example, a simple FFP1 dust mask is not suitable for workers spraying paint. You should always check that the respiratory equipment is rated for the work being carried out (and associated risks) before making a decision. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ when it comes to respiratory PPE.

Still have questions? That’s what our PPE Experts are here for. Give us a call on 0402 32116 (Arklow) or 021 484 1370 (Cork) and they’ll be happy to advise. Alternatively, you can visit our showrooms, our Arklow store is just an hour from Dublin and contains the most comprehensive range of PPE in the south east.