Any time there’s significant dust, debris, or particulate matter in the air, you need some form of respiratory protection. This is especially important if you’re exposed to the same conditions on a regular basis, or if you’re dealing with hazardous materials.
But why is respiratory protection so valuable? And how should you approach proper respiratory protection on a construction job-site?
The Importance of Respiratory Protection
Safety is always the highest priority on a job-site. Keeping your employees safe is an unambiguous moral good; it also increases productivity and morale, while reducing the potential expenses and legal complications associated with an injury on the job-site.
Respiratory protection is especially important because our lungs are highly sensitive, and subject to damage from tiny particles that we can’t even see. If you breathe in hazardous materials without protection, you could develop a number of health conditions.
So what can you do to provide better respiratory protection to your employees?
Reducing Exposure to Hazards: Your First Line of Defense
Your first line of defense should be reducing potential exposure to hazards. While respiratory personal protective equipment (PPE) can filter out some hazardous materials from the air, it’s not a perfect measure of defense; it’s much better to eliminate those hazardous materials altogether. If you have the option between a hazardous substance and a non-hazardous substance, choose the non-hazardous substance. And if you can complete the job without anyone being exposed to airborne particles, you should do so.
Employing Engineering Controls
Your second line of defense should be engineering controls, which shield your employees from potentially hazardous airborne particles without requiring them to wear any respiratory equipment. For example, you could use a fume hood to remove the bulk of online particles from a given airspace. You could also use better ventilation to disperse these particles so they’re less hazardous.
Rotating Employees
Additionally, you should consider rotating employees when working in any conditions that pose a respiratory risk. Lung damage tends to be cumulative, so it’s much riskier if you work in hazardous conditions routinely. If your employees share these responsibilities, it reduces the amount of exposure each employee has to these hazards.
Respiratory Protection: PPE Options
There are many different types of PPE suitable for respiratory protection, depending on the conditions.
- Air purifying respirators (APRs). APRs rely on activated carbon filters or mechanical filters to remove particles from the air as employees breathe. However, they shouldn’t be used in areas with unknown conditions or unknown contaminants.
- Supplied air respirators (SARs). SARs provide a steady supply of clean air, rather than filtering out particles. They’re perfectly suited for environments where breathing could be difficult.
- Dust masks. Filtering facepiece respirators, sometimes called “dust masks” are another option. These masks, when worn correctly, can filter out airborne contaminants; make sure you only purchase masks approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Additional Considerations for Respiratory Protection on Job-Sites
There are some other considerations you should bear in mind when it comes to respiratory risks on job-sites.
- Oxygen intake. Wearing certain types of respirators and masks can reduce oxygen intake, putting additional pressure on people who might ordinarily have difficulty breathing. For example, a worker with high blood pressure or heart disease may not fare well in this environment. Consider using a spirometer to test the lung capacity of your new hires and your employees on an annual basis.
- Employee preferences. Some employees feel uncomfortable when wearing respirators due to claustrophobia or personal preferences. Consider relocating these employees to other duties.
- Proper fit. Keep in mind that respirators and masks are only effective when they’re used properly – and wearing a mask properly requires a perfect fit. A respirator that’s too big or too small isn’t going to provide its wearer with any protection.
- Respirator maintenance and cleaning. If you want your respirators to continue providing protection to your employees for as long as possible, you need to regularly inspect, maintain, and clean them.
- Employee training and education. Each of your workers should fully understand the importance of respiratory protection and how to use respiratory protection appropriately. Without the proper training and education, your employees may not have the knowledge necessary to protect themselves.
- Written programs and policies. Formalize your respiratory protection policies in writing. This way, there’s no doubt and no ambiguity as to what’s required of your workers and your job-sites. Periodically update these programs and policies so they remain relevant indefinitely.
Respiratory damage can be devastating, but it can often be prevented or reduced. Eliminating hazards on the job-site, introducing engineering controls, rotating employees, and providing proper PPE can all play a significant role in keeping your job-site safe for your entire team.