Breathing apparatus

tommyoil

What (if any) type of particle mask or breathing apparatus does anyone use for dusty,less than ideal, working/breathing conditions. Removals can get brutal (as you know) and I'm not sure if what I use is adequate. Any ideas for a quality mask???

Dale

Excellent point

We use the 3M brand. Every cartridg you can imagine as well as hepa filters. If there's stuff you don't want anywhere on your face or in your lungs or eyes they sell a full face piece mask for about $125 that is great. Our local Craft foods meat plant has them with ammonia filters in the elevators of the freezer plant. Don't forget the oxygen monitor requiremnet rule if you go into "confined spaces". Whatever you get it from someone who sells the stuff as a main business, you don't want to wonder if you're getting the correct filters.

Mijola

When I do any type of service call especially cleanings I use a Scott Pak. Like the type worn by firefighters, it's a self contained breathing apparatus.

Mijola

Scott Pak

When I do any type of service call especially cleanings I use a Scott Pak. Like the type worn by firefighters, it's a self contained breathing apparatus.

Mijola

Scott Pak

When I do any type of service call especially cleanings I use a Scott Pak. Like the type worn by firefighters, it's a self contained breathing apparatus.

Mijola

Scott Pak

When I do any type of service call especially cleanings I use a Scott Pak. Like the type worn by firefighters, it's a self contained breathing apparatus.

BillW@honeywell

Mr.Tommy...

There are several things you need to know about respiratory protection. For particles, the purple hepa cartridges are the best, and cover a wide variety of particle sizes, and provide the widest spectrum of protection from particles. They DO NOT offer ANY protection from gases or vapors. Black cartridges protect against low levels of organic vapors, like paint thinner and solvents. White cartridges protect against acid gases like low levels of chlorine. Yellow cartridges protect against both organic vaors and acid gases, and all may have a prefilter for dusts or paint overspray associated with them. Green cartridges protect against low levels of ammonia. The next level is a gas mask, they use the same types of cartridges but larger, and they, like the chemical cartridge type DO NOT provide oxygen! Neither offers any protection in an oxygen-deficient atmosphere. If in doubt, STAY OUT!

A Scott pak provides about 30 minutes of breathing air, and can be used in oxygen deficient or toxic situations, and are widely used in firefighting & hazmat work, in conjunction with chemical protective suits and firemen's turnout gear. You need training to use them safely. Other masks provide air from compressors, specially designed for breathing air, NOT ordinary compressors, by long hoses.

Test confined spaces for oxygen content and flammable vapors before entering them! Some toxins can be absorbed thru your skin, be careful, and read the MSDS sheets that should be posted, in commercial or industrial situations.

Mijola

SOMETHING WRONG HERE

I was looking at this thread and I saw a 4 posts with my name on them. I did NOT post those posts. Anyone know what is going on?

Ed Carey

tommyoil

The purple cartridges

are currently what I am using. Thanks for the insight into the varying degree of cartridge. My current company is trying to give me the white dust masks in the painting isle at Big Orange. I aint bitin'. The only reason I have the twin purple mask is because I own it. I'm due for cartridge replacement and the facepiece is a little old. I want them to buy me a new one and THEY aint bitin'. Its a funny scene, dont talk on your cell phone while driving but get in that crawl space and breath deep during a removal? The safety priorities are a little backwards. I wondered what everyone else is using.

Jim_47

Respirators

Tommy, I was looking for a respirator for doing boiler cleanings and went to Lab Safety Supply co. (1-800-356-2501)
that is their tech support line. These guys have application engineers that ask you questions about your type of work. Its as if they were a part of your company the way they insure you get the right cartridge and respirator. I was only intrested in soot and they told me about how a boiler that breaths basement air is also a radon magnet as well as all kinds of bacteria etc. I have used them for 10+ years now without a single complaint.

oil-2-4-6-gas

.

tommyoil i think OSHA needs a call about this situation those painters and dust masks from hardware stores clearly state they are for comfort only they are not made for the situation most of us are put in and endanger your health ----tell the boss that those masks are not OSHA approved ..maybe we should call them and check

Larry (from OSHA)

using respirators in the workplace

Greetings,

There are many concerns about using respirators and quite frankly it goes beyond whether to use cartridge type or filtering face piece types.

OSHA requires that any employer who either requires or allows the use of respirators in the workplace ensure that employees are properly trained, get a fit test, and be medically evaluated to ensure that just using a respirator does not create a hazard to the user. The employer needs to have in place a respirator program that details how the requirements will be met.

There are different requirements for vonuntary verses mandatory usage of respirators.

My experience has been that in many cases, the hazardous substance that a worker is exposed to will not be at the levels that requires respirator usage. Your situation may be different.

In my opinion, the most important consideration is that anyone that wears a respirator, be medically able to do so.

The OSHA website below is the respirator regulation. For help in translating it into English, I suggest that you call the OSHA area office in your neck of the woods. Or feel free to email me and I will try to answer any questions.

The regulation:

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=12716

Information for Employees Using Respirators When not Required:

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9784

The medical evaluation questionaire.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9783

I hope this helps.

Larry (from OSHA)

BillW@honeywell

Approvals to look for...

respirators are approved by NIOSH and MSHA, the National Institute of Safety & Health and the Mining Safety and Health Administration. The paper dust masks typical in most hardware stores are not approved for anything but "nusiance dust", if that. Some approved chemical cartridge respirators are sold in hardware stores, but read the labels carefully. A good source is a mail-order company called "Direct Safety", they have a website, www.directsafety.com, and sell all levels of approved respirators and spare cartridges. Make sure the facepiece fits properly, clean it carefully after use, and replace cartridges immediately if you feel increased resistance to breathing or begin to smell or taste the contamininent you are trying to protect against. Shave cleanly for a good face seal with the facepiece. Tighten straps, cover the cartridges with your hands, breathe in. The mask should collapse against your face, with no leaks (rubber facepieces only). Be careful. Larry from OSHA brings up an excellent point, you should be medically checked out before you use any respirator.