Respiratory Protection

A respirator is a protective facepiece, hood, or helmet that is designed to protect the wearer against a variety of harmful airborne agents.

To select the correct respirator for protection against particulates, the following conditions must be known:

• The identity and concentration of the contaminants in the workplace air
• The permissible exposure limit (PEL) for each contaminant
• The hazard ratio (HR), which is the airborne particulate concentration divided by the exposure limit
• The assigned protection factor (APF) for the class of respirator (The APF should be greater than the HR)
• The immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) concentration, including oxygen deficiency
• Any service life information available for combination cartridges or canisters

To learn more about Construction Chemical Hazards visit our Construction Chemical Hazards & Toxic Substances Online Training web page.