Guidelines for Choosing the Right Respiratory Equipment

When selecting a respirator, keep the following in mind:

• Respirators cannot impair the worker's ability to see, hear, communicate, and move as they perform their tasks.
• Be careful of SARs with trailing hoses; these hoses limit the area the worker can cover and may cause harm if entangled in machinery.
• SCBAs with back-mounted, compressed-air cylinders are bulky, which makes climbing and entering tight areas difficult. (Additionally, the heavy weight may cause the worker harm.)
• Some OSHA substance-specific standards include more detailed information on respirator selection. Once you know the specific hazards of the workplace, make sure that your site fully protects workers from them.
• Equipment must be NIOSH certified.

To learn more about Respiratory Protection visit our Respiratory Protection Online Training web page.