Types of Respirators

Many employers use different types of respirators to help reduce employee exposure to potentially damaging air contaminates as their first line of defense. However, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states in 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.134(a)(1), “In the control of those occupational diseases caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays or vapors, the primary objective shall be to prevent atmospheric contamination. This shall be accomplished as far as feasible by accepted engineering control measures (for example, enclosure or confinement of the operation, general and local ventilation, and substitution of less toxic materials). When effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted, appropriate respirators shall be used pursuant to this section."

Respirators are among the most important pieces of protective equipment when working in hazardous environments. Selecting the right respirator requires an assessment of all the workplace operations, processes and environments. The identity of the hazard and its airborne concentrations need to be determined before choosing a respirator. This assessment should be done by experienced safety personnel or by an industrial hygienist.

Three primary agencies are responsible for researching and establishing contaminant exposure limit levels for hazardous substances. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) is a voluntary organization of safety professionals that develops and reviews occupational exposure limits as threshold limit values (TLVs). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is a federal agency that conducts research on safety and health concerns. NIOSH is responsible for developing and revising recommended exposure limits (RELs) for hazardous substances. The recommendations must then be accepted via OSHA’s legislative process before any REL is enforced as an OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL).

Types of Respirators

Once a workplace assessment has been completed and engineering controls have been ruled out, the respirator selection process can begin. Respirators protect users in two basic ways resulting in two primary categories of respirators. The first category of respirators functions by removing contaminates from the air. These are known as air-purifying respirators. They have filters, cartridges, canisters or a combination of filters and cartridges/canisters that remove contaminants from the air by passing the ambient air through the air-purifying element before it reaches the user. The second category of respirators supplies clean breathing air from another source. These are known as atmosphere-supplying respirators. Each category of respirators is further sub-divided into three types of respirators.

Air-Purifying Respirator Types:

Atmosphere-Supplying Respirator Types:

Material Types

Respirators can be made from a variety of materials. The most popular facepiece materials are silicone, neoprene and natural rubber. In general, natural rubber and neoprene are rigid, durable materials. Silicone is preferred for its comfort, flexibility and ease in cleaning. Full-face respirators are available with five- or six-strap harnesses or ratchet suspensions. The harness type can be worn with hard hats, while ratchet suspensions are generally easier to adjust, making donning and doffing easier.

Optional Features

Various features are available for full-face respirators to help customize respirators to suit your employees and the specific hazards they encounter. For example, nose cups reduce lens fogging and lens covers help protect the lens from paint, minor chemical splash and scratches. Spectacle kits are available for employees who require prescription eyewear. The frame mounts into the full-face mask and the wearer’s optometrist makes the prescription lenses. This allows the wearer to maintain a proper respirator fit and still wear prescription lenses.

The information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only and is based on information available as of the initial date of publication. No representation is made that the information or references are complete or remain current. This article is not a substitute for review of current applicable government regulations, industry standards, or other standards specific to your business and/or activities and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions should refer to the applicable standards or consult with an attorney.