RESPIRATORS:

Always make sure your respirator is NIOSH approved

• NIOSH Approval TC
• Respirators bought in the USA will carry this approval

Wear the right respirator for the exposure!

Wearing a respirator creates breathing resistance. Talk to your physician before wearing a respirator if:

• You have Coronary Heart Disease
• Respiratory Issues (Emphysema, Asthma)
• Pregnant

Respirators come in a variety of styles and uses

• Air Supplied - Almost never used in glass studios
• Air Purifying

Air Purifying Positive Pressure	PAPR - Power Air Purifying Respirator
Air Purifying Negative Pressure	Filtering Facepiece
Air Purifying Negative Pressure	Elastometric

Particulate Respirators - What does N95/P95/P100 mean?

N95	not resistant to oil 95% efficient for particles ≥0.3 microns (µm)
R95	resistant to oil for a limited time 95% efficient for particles ≥0.3 microns (µm)
P95	oil-proof 95% efficient for particles ≥0.3 microns (µm)
P100	99.7% efficient for particles ≥0.3 microns (µm) HEPA – High Efficient Particulate Air filter

Protection Factors:

• NIOSH assigned protection factor
• OEL X PF = Level of Protection
• Example: 5 mg/m³ X 10 = Good to 50 mg/m³

Protection Factor
10	Filtering Facepiece, Half Face Elastometric Respirator
25	PAPR, Loose Fitting
50	PAPR, Tight Fitting

How to use a Respirator:

• Respirators are available in a variety of sizes - make sure you buy the right size for your face.
• The respirator is properly positioned over your nose and mouth at all times.
• The top strap or head harness assembly is positioned high on the back of the head.
• The lower strap is worn at the back of the neck below the ears.
• Do not buy one strap respirators! They do not fit well.
• The straps are snug enough to keep the respirator from moving but not overly tight.
• Nothing (beards, head coverings, etc.) passes between the skin of the face and the respirator’s sealing edge.

Respirator must fit tightly to your face to work properly. Always check the fit:

• Negative pressure - put your palm over the filter and breath in - the respirator should slightly collapse on your face and you should not feel a leak .
• Positive pressure - put your palm over the exhalation valve and breath out - you should not feel a leak.
• Do this every time you put on a respirator!

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Changing Respirators/Cartridges:

Replace the dust mask or change the filters when you notice:

• Increased breathing resistance (dust cartridges)
• Physical damage to any part of the facepiece or filters
• The inside of the dust mask becomes unsanitary
• Time use limitations on the package require replacement
• If smell, taste or irritation from the contaminant(s) is detected
• Cartridges should be changed regularly
• Store the respirator and cartridges in a plastic bag to protect it when not in use

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What a respirator CAN DO:

Filtering Facepiece Dust/Fume/Mist Throw-away type bought at Home Depot, Lowes Good for nuisance dust, paint (latex) mist Does NOT work for chemical vapors (acetone, ammonia, etc.) Does NOT work for gases (carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, etc.)
Elastometric - Particulate Not for chemical exposures! P95/P100 (HEPA) Appropriate for RCF, silica dust, lead Elastometric - Chemical Variety of chemical-specific cartridges available Organic Vapor, Acid Gas most common Always insure you select the correct filter for the exposure

What a Respirator CAN NOT DO:

• Can not provide breathing atmosphere
• Can not protect against materials for which it was not intended
• Must be worn correctly
• Must not have anything interfere with the seal to the face (beards!)
• Read and understand the label before buying a respirator
• Always store respirators in clean, dry places away from chemical exposure

Respirator resource links on the Internet:	Information about respirators on the Internet:
www.LabSafety.com This is not an endorsement of any one distributor!	NIOSH Respirator Page

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