Introduction to Respiratory Protection
Unlike head or foot injuries respiratory injuries are not readily apparent in the workplace. In some cases it may not be until after workers retire that symptoms occur.
It is therefore important that all staff that are, or may be at risk have access to Respiratory Protective Equipment.
To help you meet Health & Safety Executive demands for personal protection, the SCAN respiratory range offers an extensive range of disposable masks, respirators and powered respirators.
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Dust
Formed by the breaking down of solid materials, normally when materials are altered. For example, sanding, cutting, grinding and brushing. In general the smaller the dust particle the greater hazard that it represents. Fibres from materials should also be treated as dusts.
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Vapour
A gaseous state formed by evaporation from substances that are normally either solid or liquid at room temperature (e.g. petrol, methalated spirits), many industrial processes used in degreasing vapourise particularly quickly once heated.
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Fume
Formed by the vapourisation of a solid material by the application of intense heat. Extremely fine particles are formed as the fume cools and condenses. Many processes form fume; such as smelting, pouring metals and many welding applications.
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Mist
Formed by processes that involve atomisation (such as spraying, cleaning and cutting/grinding using coolants) and consist of tiny liquid droplets rather like steam in a bathroom.
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APF - Assigned Protection Factor
Level of respiratory protection that can be expected to be achieved in the workplace by 95% of adequately trained and supervised wearers using a properly fitted and functioning respiratory protective device.
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NPF - Nominal Protection Factor
The potential maximum protection factor using the maximum percentage inward leakage permitted for a given standard class of respiratory protective device.
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