Breath of fresh air
February 1st 2007 Respiratory Protection is essential for the long term preservation of good health for employees working within industrial environments where hazardous substances pose a threat. Frank Angear, Product Protection Respiratory Manager, of Scott Health & Safety explains some of the dangers and stresses the importance of using appropriate RPE While the Health and Safety At Work Act and, more recently, COSHH Regulations have raised awareness of the dangers posed by hazardous substances – as well as promoting and encouraging employers to take preventative measures to protect employers – there are still many instances in which the necessity for Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) is ignored. While carrying out maintenance, workers may be required to perform tasks for which they are exposed to contamination for only short durations, for example when replacing filters in a spray booth. The risk may seem insignificant and the use of RPE unnecessary. However, continuous or regular performance within these conditions without protection, will eventually pose a serious health risk. Education concerning occupational health risk is paramount, on-going and in need of constant review. For example, many operators may not fully appreciate the dangers of welding with certain metals, such as mild steel, which would require basic mask protection. Welding of certain alloys, however, or galvanised components and stainless steel require far more sophisticated protection that should include an air powered respirator with a combination of gas and particulate filters. Complaints resulting from inadequate protection and exposure to contamination, such as toxic gases, dust spores, fumes and mists may, for example, include welders' or farmers' lung, as well as occupational asthma. As an industry, we have made significant strides over recent years in fostering an understanding of respirable workplace dangers among those who are most at threat from them. RPE may be more commonly associated with use in engineering and finishing applications such as in foundries, automotive spray painting and coating booths, and maintenance operations. But the message has gone further afield as it is now used in laboratories to prevent the inhalation of particulate gaseous contaminants or bacteria; in the ceramics or cement industries which have recently seen a change to the latest workplace exposure limits for crystalline silica dust; plus environments found in poultry or feed processing – to mention but a few! RPE Selection As the use of RPE increases, so too does the choice of equipment. Selecting the right product fit for purpose is vitally important as the onus of care remains with the responsible person within an employing body. Scott Health & Safety offers a comprehensive choice of respiratory protection, including half and full masks, powered air purifying respirators, airline filtering devices and advanced canister and cartridge filter technology. Every product has been rigorously tested and approved to the current EN and other standards worldwide. Responding to market requirements, Scott has recently undertaken a major review of its negative pressure respirator range, involving rationalisation and design modifications to existing respiratory products. The changes streamline the company's range of half and full facemasks, while continuing to provide comprehensive protection for virtually all known respiratory hazards. Scott's new range will simplify user product selection and reduce the number of stock items required by distributor channels. Scott Health & Safety's range of half masks includes twin and single filter masks and user replaceable standard filters for cost effectiveness. Profile is an advanced twin filter half mask respirator which is easy to fit and fully adjustable to provide high levels of user comfort over long durations. It offers low breathing resistance and is suitable for use in a wide range of applications. Profile is easy to use, simple to maintain and offers users low through-life costs. Profile uses the new Scott Pro range of efficient gas particulate and combined filters to provide respiratory protection for a wide variety of workers. When fitted with a P3 filter and used in conjunction with close fitting eye protection, Profile= RPE is recommended for use by medical staff and carers who are involved with prevention and spread of communicable diseases such as Avian Influenza. Full face masks include Vision 2, Promask and Sari NR (natural rubber). Vision 2 is Scott's latest high performance full face mask which, the company believes, provides unsurpassed field of vision. It is said to guarantee levels of protection and maintainability that set new standards in the industry. The liquid silicone rubber face seal shape maximises the sealing area on the widest population of faces and thereby minimises pressure points. Available in two versions with a front thread filter fitting or side thread to enable fully unrestricted forward field of vision. The Scott Promask is a lightweight and ergonomically designed, multi functional full face mask, providing high levels of comfort and protection for users operating in some of the most demanding environments. Promask is available in two sizes and three variants to ensure an anatomical fit. Single filter masks can be supplied in either durable halo-butyl or comfortable silicone with twin filter masks available in silicone. Promask is a versatile respirator offering multi-level protection with a choice of either DIN 40mm Pro2000 filters or Pro cartridge filter. For applications in a multitude of industries including nuclear, agriculture, chemical and pharmaceutical, plus many more, Scott Health & Safety has a selection of powered respiratory solutions. Products include Tornado, Proflow and Phantom which is most applicable to asbestos stripping. A complete range of powered and airline equipment has been designed with intelligence, comfort, versatility and safety in mind. Guide to selection Scott Health & Safety offers a new, fully updated Guide to the Selection of Respiratory Protection Equipment, which includes up-to-date information on European Standards and risk assessment. The guide can be download from the company's website (www.scottint.com) or contact Scott to discuss your specific application. simple to maintain and offers users low through-life costs. Profile uses the new Scott Pro range of efficient gas particulate and combined filters to provide respiratory protection for a wide variety of workers. When fitted with a P3 filter and used in conjunction with close fitting eye protection, Profile= RPE is recommended for use by medical staff and carers who are involved with prevention and spread of communicable diseases such as Avian Influenza. Full face masks include Vision 2, Promask and Sari NR (natural rubber). Vision 2 is Scott's latest high performance full face mask which, the company believes, provides unsurpassed field of vision. It is said to guarantee levels of protection and maintainability that set new standards in the industry. The liquid silicone rubber face seal shape maximises the sealing area on the widest population of faces and thereby minimises pressure points. Available in two versions with a front thread filter fitting or side thread to enable fully unrestricted forward field of vision. The Scott Promask is a lightweight and ergonomically designed, multi functional full face mask, providing high levels of comfort and protection for users operating in some of the most demanding environments. Promask is available in two sizes and three variants to ensure an anatomical fit. Single filter masks can be supplied in either durable halo-butyl or comfortable silicone with twin filter masks available in silicone. Promask is a versatile respirator offering multi-level protection with a choice of either DIN 40mm Pro2000 filters or Pro cartridge filter. For applications in a multitude of industries including nuclear, agriculture, chemical and pharmaceutical, plus many more, Scott Health & Safety has a selection of powered respiratory solutions. Products include Tornado, Proflow and Phantom which is most applicable to Continued from page 34 asbestos stripping. A complete range of powered and airline equipment has been designed with intelligence, comfort, versatility and safety in mind. Guide to selection Scott Health & Safety offers a new, fully updated Guide to the Selection of Respiratory Protection Equipment, which includes up-to-date information on European Standards and risk assessment. The guide can be download from the company's website (www.scottint.com) or contact Scott to discuss your specific application. More articles from Scott Health & Safety Ltd: | 
