Effective Respirable Protective Equipment:
Why it’s important

Deploying effective and valuable equipment is dependent on the job being completed, the workers using it and the environment the work is being undertaken in. Our very own Particulate Technical Product Manager, Adrian Eccles, discusses the effective use of PPE, when PPE is valuable to use and the Hierarchy of Controls. 

We asked Adrian to explain where PPE fits in across the wider context of effective dust control in the workplace: 

“Firstly, the Hierarchy of Controls shows that PPE is the last option when protecting workers from risk, meaning all other options – including elimination, substitution, and the introduction of administrative controls or engineering controls – should be investigated first.  

It’s important to note that PPE is a broad term which can include anything from eye, hearing and headwear protection, as well as Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) such as masks. When asked about the most common use of RPE in relation to occupational dust, Adrian said: 

“Often, teams are using disposable FFP3 masks for occupational dust. From my experience, companies will go down this route for one of 2 main reasons:  

1. They believe that this is the best protection available because it’s P3 (meaning it offers the highest particulate filter protection level according to EU standards).
2. Because it’s a low-cost option compared to powered respirators.” 

Adrian stressed that effective RPE is dependent on 2 things, and these are suitability and adequacy. 

On the other hand, when we consider if RPE is adequate, we need to assess if it offers enough protection for the task at hand. Here, we’re looking to make sure that the Assigned Protection Factor (APF) of the mask or respirator being worn effectively reduces the concentration of dust in the air.

The amount of dust that’s in the air at any given time depends on a variety of factors, including the materials being used, the skill of the operator, and the environment where the task is being carried out. To understand exactly how much dust is in a given work area, you rely on air monitoring.”

This is where effective real-time monitoring equipment comes into play. Adrian highlighted the importance of knowing what you’re regularly exposed to, in order to then deploy the most effective RPE for the job, location and worker in question:

“Once you have the data from your air monitoring efforts, you check the EH40: the EH40 is a guide produced by the HSE that lists workplace exposure levels (WEL) for dust and gas. For example, the WEL for silica is 0.1mg/m³.

All RPE have a different Assigned Protection Factor (APF). For example, a disposable FFP1 mask has an APF of 4, a disposable FFP3 mask has an APF of 20, and powered respirators can have an APF of 40 (this information will be clear on the equipment packaging).

If your air monitoring showed that a worker cutting a kitchen counter had an exposure level of 2.6 mg/m³, you’d know that the worker was being exposed to approximately 27 times more silica dust than recommended, which means they would need RPE with an APF of 27 or greater. But remember, the goal isn’t to reduce exposure so that it’s just below the WEL, the goal is to reduce exposure to the hazard as much as reasonably practicable.”

When having to provide your workforce with PPE and more specifically RPE, it’s essential that it’s the most effective solution for the job being completed and the worker undertaking the task. Remember suitability and adequacy should always be consulted, for every different scenario.