Health and Safety Executive R COSHH essentials: Supplementary advice RPE with a UK Standard Assigned Protection Factor 10 (APF10) Control approach R Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require employers to ensure that exposure is prevented or, where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled. This guidance gives practical advice on how this can be achieved by applying the principles of good practice for the control of exposure to substances hazardous to health, as required by COSHH. It is aimed at people whose responsibilities include the management of substances hazardous to health at work (eg occupational health specialists, anyone undertaking COSHH assessments, supervisors and is also useful for trade union and employee safety representatives). It will help you carry out COSHH assessments, review existing assessments, deliver training and supervise activities involving substances hazardous to health. This guidance is issued by the Health and Safety Executive. Following the guidance is not compulsory, unless specifically stated, and you are free to take other action. But if you do follow the guidance you will normally be doing enough to comply with the law. Health and safety inspectors seek to secure compliance with the law and may refer to this guidance. See Essential information near the end of the sheet. What this sheet covers This sheet describes good practice when using RPE with a UK Standard Assigned Protection Factor of 10 (APF 10). Main points This sheet gives some brief information on use and maintenance of RPE. You will have taken the decision that an APF of 10 or higher is adequate it is right for the hazard and reduces exposure to the level required to protect the wearer s health. This sheet helps you provide information to suppliers to identify respirators and breathing apparatus suitable for the wearer, task and the environment. Types of respirators available with an APF of 10: Disposable half-mask respirators. Classification FFP2. Reusable half-mask respirators particle filter. Classification half mask + P2 filter. Reusable half-mask respirators gas/vapour filter. Classification Gas, FFgas, FMgas. Full face mask respirators particle filter. Classification P2. Types of breathing apparatus available with an APF of 10: Fresh air hose (FAH) breathing apparatus. Classification Assisted FAH with half mask; Constant flow airline breathing apparatus with mask light duty. Classification 1A; Constant flow airline breathing apparatus with mask. Classification 1B; Constant flow airline breathing apparatus with hood/helmet light duty. Classification 1A; Constant flow airline breathing apparatus with hood/helmet. Classification 1B; Constant flow airline breathing apparatus with full suit. Classification 1A; Powered respirators with mask. Classification TM1; Powered respirators with hood/helmet. Classification TH1.
When RPE should be used 3 Use RPE: where an inhalation exposure risk remains after you have put in place other reasonable controls (residual risk); while you are putting in place other control measures (interim measures); for emergency work or temporary failure of controls where other means of control are not reasonably practicable; or for short-term or infrequent exposure, such as during maintenance work, where you decide that other controls at the source of the exposure are not reasonably practicable. Caution: Respirators must not be used in oxygen-deficient atmospheres as they can not replace the oxygen. You will require suitable breathing apparatus and should seek professional advice. Only those with appropriate training should use this type of breathing apparatus. Selecting the right RPE 3 The two main types of RPE are respirators and breathing apparatus. 3 Respirators (filtering devices) use filters to remove contaminants from the air being breathed in. They can be either: non-powered respirators relying on the wearer s breathing to draw air through the filter; or powered respirators using a motor to pass air through the filter to give a supply of clean air. 3 Remember that airborne liquids in the form of fine sprays and mists and solid materials, including dusts, fibres, smoke and fume, require a filter. The filter material will be different depending on the hazardous substance and its form. There are two basic filter types available: particle filters; gas/vapour filters. 3 Breathing apparatus (this is commonly referred to as BA) needs a supply of breathing-quality air from an independant source. Selecting RPE that is suitable 3 Ensure the RPE is adequate to control the hazards. Ensure it is suitable for: the individual wearer; the tasks they are doing; the environment in which they are working. 3 Involve the wearer in selecting the RPE. 3 Give wearers a choice of several adequate and suitable RPE so they can choose the one they find most comfortable. 3 This promotes compliance with wearing instructions. 3 Allow wearers to take a break if RPE is used for longer than one hour. 3 Where RPE is required to be worn continuously for long periods, powered respirators or airline Breathing Apparatus, for example a loose-fitting face piece such as a hood or helmet, is a better option. 3 Other common factors about the wearer you need to consider are: Check facial hair or markings don t prevent a good seal between the wearer s face and the RPE. Check pre-existing medical conditions. Ensure spectacles or contact lenses are compatible with RPE.
3 Ensure workers are medically fit to wear the required RPE (examples include breathing disorders such as asthma, skin allergies, or even heart problems). 3 For the task consider: work-rate; wear-time; vision requirements. Carrying out a fit test 3 For RPE with a tight-fitting facepiece, ensure each wearer undergoes a fit test. 3 Ensure fit testing is repeated on a regular basis Management and supervision 3 Ensure those wearing RPE follow the measures you put in place. 3 Make sure RPE is used where appropriate. Training 3 Train all people involved in the selection, use, storage and maintenance (if required) of RPE. An appropriate training programme should cover the following areas: Why RPE is needed; The hazards, risks and effects of exposure; What RPE is being provided; How RPE works; Why fit testing is required (if relevant); How to wear and check the RPE correctly; Fit checking before each use (see manufacturers instructions); What maintenance is required and when; Frequency of filter changing; Where and how it should be cleaned and stored; How to report/tackle any problems; Employee and employer responsibilities; Use and misuse of RPE; and Tell workers to discard disposable RPE at the end of the shift, or sooner if their RPE becomes blocked with dust. Maintenance 3 Use properly trained personnel to maintain all RPE that requires maintenance. 3 A thorough maintenance, examination and test should be carried out at least once a month. However, if the RPE is used only occasionally, an examination and test should be carried out before use and, in any event, the interval should not exceed three months. 3 Keep records of all examinations and tests for at least 5 years. 3 Ensure air supplied to BA meets minimum quality requirements in line with the latest British Standard. Further Information A list of accredited fit test providers at the web site http://www.fit2fit.org. The RPE pages of the HSE web site contain information and tools: www.hse.gov.uk/respiratory-protective-equipment/ Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register www.oshcr.org/
You can find the full COSHH essentials series at www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/index.htm Respiratory protective equipment at work: A practical guide HSG53 (Fourth edition) HSE Books 2013 www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg53.htm Safe work in confined spaces. Confined Spaces Regulations 1997. Approved Code of Practice, Regulations and guidance L101 (Third edition) HSE Books 2014 www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l101.htm BS EN 138:1994. Respiratory protective devices. Specification for fresh air hose breathing apparatus for use with full face mask, half mask or mouthpiece assembly British Standards Institution BS EN 140:1999 Respiratory protective devices. Half masks and quarter masks. Requirements, testing, marking British Standards Institution BS EN 143:2000. Respiratory protective devices. Particle filters. Requirements, testing, marking British Standards Institution BS EN 149:1992. Specification for filtering half masks to protect against particles British Standards Institution BS EN 1827:1999+A1:2009. Respiratory protective devices. Half masks without inhalation valves and with separable filters to protect against gases or gases and particles or particles only. Requirements, testing, marking British Standards Institution BS EN 12941:1998+A2:2008. Respiratory protective devices. Powered filtering devices incorporating a helmet or a hood. Requirements, testing, marking British Standards Institution BS EN 12942:1998+A2:2008. Respiratory protective devices. Power assisted filtering devices incorporating full face masks, half masks or quarter masks. Requirements, testing, marking British Standards Institution BS EN 14387:2004+A1:2008. Respiratory protective devices. Gas filter(s) and combined filter(s). Requirements, testing, marking British Standards Institution BS EN 14594:2005. Respiratory protective devices. Continuous flow compressed air line breathing apparatus. Requirements, testing, marking British Standards Institution For information about health and safety, or to report inconsistencies or inaccuracies in this guidance, visit www.hse.gov.uk/. You can view HSE guidance online and order priced publications from the website. HSE priced publications are also available from bookshops. British Standards can be obtained in PDF or hard copy formats from BSI: http://shop.bsigroup.com or by contacting BSI Customer Services for hard copies only Tel: 0845 086 9001 email: cservices@bsigroup.com Crown copyright If you wish to reuse this information visit www.hse.gov.uk/copyright.htm for details. First published 10/03 This document is available at: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/rpe2.pdf Published by the Health and Safety Executive 01/18
Information to help your RPE supplier Task / Job Name Hazard (s) How long does the task take? hours minutes Physical form particles (solid or liquid), vapour or gas 0 Particle dust 0 Particle fume 0 Particle mist 0 Particle aerosol or spray 0 Vapour 0 Gas Continuous RPE wear time 0 Greater than 1 hour 0 Less than 1 hour If a liquid, is it water or solvent based? 0 Water 0 Solvent 0 Not sure Work rate 0 Heavy Heavy manual work such as shovelling or digging, climbing ramps or ladders 0 Medium Sustained hand and arm work, handling or carrying moderately heavy material 0 Light Sedentary work: assembly or sorting of light materials High temperature/humidity? 0 Yes 0 No 0 Not sure Low temperature? 0 Yes 0 No 0 Not sure Explosive / flammable in air? 0 Yes 0 No 0 Not sure Space to do task 0 Restricted 0 Unrestricted Amount of moving around 0 One place 0 Many places Vision requirement 0 All round 0 Not relevant Spoken communication 0 Necessary 0 Not relevant Wearer s medical fitness 0 OK 0 Not sure (seek medical advice) Wearer s aspect 0 Facial Hair 0 Spectacles 0 Markings/Other Other head PPE worn eg hard hat, ear muffs or eye protection? 0 Yes 0 No