Are Dust Masks Respirators?
One important distinction that must be made when discussing respirator use is the difference between respirators and facemasks.
The Difference Between Respirators and Surgical Masks
Facemasks include surgical masks, which are fluid resistant, and procedure or isolation masks which are not fluid resistant. While some people may call both respirators and facemasks "masks," this is incorrect as they are very different in their design, performance, and purpose.
Only dust masks certified by NIOSH are considered respirators and are covered under 1910.134 rules. A NIOSH-certified dust mask - called a filtering facepiece - is a tight-fitting, negative pressure, particulate respirator. The particulate filter is the facepiece. Dust masks that don't have NIOSH certification are not respirators.
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2-8. What requirement must be met for dust masks to be considered respirators?
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