01-32_GENERALS_SUMMER25_PT - Flipbook - Page 12
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Overview of Respiratory Equipment Types
Negative-Pressure - Negative-pressure respirators rely on the
wearer to pull air in through cartridges or 昀椀lter. This has the
potential to put a strain on the wearer, which is why medical
evaluations are important (and required). Commonly seen as
Disposable or Reusable respirators, these respirators are also
considered tight-昀椀tting, which requires workers to be 昀椀t-tested
in order to be worn. As a result, workers must also be clean
shaven.
Disposable - Disposable respirators are used to help protect
against certain particulate hazards. They’re lightweight and
require no maintenance since they’re discarded after use.
Reusable - Reusable respirators can be used with particulate
昀椀lters, gas and vapor cartridges or combination cartridges.
Replacement schedules are determined by a quali昀椀ed person.
Positive Pressure - Positive-pressure respirators do the work of
pushing air to the respirator headtop or facepiece; they can either be a powered-air purifying respirator (PAPR), using a battery-powered blower to pull air through a 昀椀lter, or supplied-air,
bringing clean air through a hose from a source outside of the
contaminated work area. These systems can use headtops or
facepieces that are either tight-昀椀tting or loose-昀椀tting.
Tight-Fitting - Tight-昀椀tting respirators must be 昀椀t-tested prior
to being worn, and users must perform seal checks every time.
Loose-Fitting - Loose-昀椀tting respirators typically have a hood or
helmet.
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) - Self-contained
breathing apparatus (SCBA) is classi昀椀ed as a positive pressure
supplied air respirator, but is di昀昀erent from all other respiratory
equipment in that the user carries the source of the clean air with
them in a tank. This type is mainly used for conditions that are
unknown or “immediately dangerous to life or health” (IDLH),
such as oxygen-de昀椀cient atmospheres, when hazards are so
concentrated or so toxic they can’t be brought to acceptable levels
with other types of respiratory protection, or when you’ve been
unable to de昀椀nitively record the level of hazard in the workplace.
Disposable
Reusable
Positive Pressure
Loose-Fitting
Tight-Fitting
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Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
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