Selecting a Respirator

To select the right respirator, employers must first gather information about the hazard or hazards present through an initial analysis of the site. This includes identifying the hazards and then determining the following:

• The chemical and physical properties of the contaminant
• The toxicity and concentration of the hazardous material(s)
• The amount of oxygen present

From here, employers must then determine the nature and extent of the hazard, the work rate, area to be covered, worker mobility, work requirements and conditions, and the limitations and characteristics of the available respirators.

Remember: Every worksite will be different and will therefore pose different hazards. This means that the respiratory protection needs will be different for each site. Additionally, sites may evolve as teams progress through a project (such as a demolition site moving into classification as a construction site). Therefore, in addition to an initial site analysis, employers must continually monitor the site for changes and alter the respiratory program as needed.

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