Respirator Types
To understand how respirators can be used to protect employees, it is important to understand what a respirator is and what it is not.
Tight-Fitting Respirators
Air Purifying Respirators
A respirator protects against respiratory hazards by removing specific air contaminants from the ambient (surrounding) air or by supplying breathable air from a safe source.
- Air-purifying respirators: Respirators that remove contaminants from the ambient air are called air-purifying respirators. Particulate respirators are a type of air-purifying respirator. The part of a respirator that forms a protective barrier between the user's respiratory tract and air contaminants is called an inlet covering. Most inlet coverings are classified as either tight-fitting or loose-fitting.
- Tight-fitting respirator: A tight-fitting respirator has an inlet covering, also called a face piece or mask, designed to form a seal with the face of the wearer. It is available in three types: quarter mask, half mask, and full face piece.
- Loose-fitting respirator: A loose-fitting respirator has an inlet covering that typically covers the user's head and may extend over the shoulders. It is designed to form a partial seal with the face. These include loose-fitting face pieces, as well as hoods, helmets, blouses, or full suits, all of which cover the head completely.
- Atmosphere-supplying respirators: Respirators that supply air from a safe source other than the ambient air are called atmosphere-supplying respirators. There are two types of atmosphere-supplying respirators: Supplied-Air Respirators (SARs) and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).
Air-Purifying Respirators
The air-purifying respirator, or "APR," has an air-purifying filter, cartridge, or canister that removes specific air contaminants, such as particulates, gases, and vapors, or both from the air.
Selecting an appropriate filter, cartridge, or canister can be complicated because there are many types, and none protect against all contaminants. That is why it's necessary to identify each respiratory hazard in your workplace before you select a respirator.
Air-purifying respirators are available in non-powered and powered types. We will discuss these two types of respirators in the next couple sections.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-2. Which respirator removes specific air contaminants, such as particulates, gases, and vapors, or both from the air?
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