QLD Mining and Energy Bulletin
Issue link: http://ebook.aprs.com.au/i/50246
Filtering respirators Are you buying wisely? If you approach any safety retailer these days you will probably find one or two brands of respirators. With such limited choice and often limited knowledge how do you know you are getting the best value for money option? Value for money Everyone's opinion of value for money varies based on perception, experience, exposure and activity. So how do you assess value for money? There are many ways to approach this but in simple terms it helps to go back to basics. Most importantly when it comes to safety products they must be used to provide any protection at all. In this case the mask must be worn. Don't assume it will be!! If you've ever worn a mask in a hot, labour intensive job you will quickly learn how uncomfortable they can be and how tempting it is to not use them. So what makes a mask comfortable? Mask construction - All masks are uncomfortable to some extent as it is not natural to breathe in an enclosed structure. Some however are much better than others. Cheaper masks are made with hard compounds that do not flex and deform to seal comfortably on the face. This means an overly tight adjustment to obtain (and maintain) a seal creating pressure points and making the mask uncomfortable. In reality most people either don't wear the mask, or have it loose, potentially compromising their respiratory health. A choice of a rigid hard mask is not a good solution in most cases. Newer technology (as used in MSA Advantage masks) allows the use of very soft liquid moulding technology and very broad sealing surfaces. This reduces weight and provides much greater comfort. These masks also contain drain holes for sweat and textured surfaces to improve grip. The result is a significantly more comfortable mask which is easier to wear and therefore better value all around. A mask worn is many times better value than one that is cheap and not worn at all. Filter design – What is in a filter? How can this effect comfort and value? The obvious factor when considering value in a filter is cost. Does cost relate to value? Filters are a sandwich of materials designed to capture and filter chemicals and particles in the surrounding air and protect the mask wearer from exposure. The force to pull the air stream through the filter is the vacuum created in your lungs when you breathe. The QLD Mining and Energy Bulletin Summer 2011/12 105 resistance to this is critical to comfort and therefore relates to the chance the system will be used. A high breathing resistance increases dramatically the effort required for a task. Added to the discomfort of a hard mask and the user will either remove the mask or not do the task. Put simply a bad comfort decision will compromise both the safety and efficiency of the job. Masks and filters work as a system so trial them together. MSA Advantage masks are designed as a system offering industry leading comfort and filtering efficiency at low breathing resistance. A higher rating on the filters also allows longer times between filter replacements and represent true value for money. Always choose an Australian certified mask but be aware these are tested with standard methods on a "standardised" metal headform using a mechanical vacuum. No one is standard, metal doesn't feel pain and mechanical devices don't labour. The best method to assess a mask is to wear it and feel the value. What value do you put on your respiratory health? The price of not wearing a badly selected mask is much higher than taking the time to properly assess and choose a comfortable value for money respirator. [Products and Services Showcase] Air Purification Respirators