8/04/2014

Content About The N95 Respirators

By Annabelle Holman


Respirators are the pieces of equipment used to protect wearers against inhaling harmful substances such as fumes, gasses, vapors, or dust. The market is currently filled with many varieties of respirators including N95 respirators. N95 varieties can be used for general purposes. They can be used in hospitals, industries, offices, homes, or in outdoor settings. Heavy uses such as military operations and high-risk situations make use of other brands which are designed to be reused by replacing cartridges.

N95 respirator is a disposable type of air filtering device with the ability to filter particles as small as 0.1 microns in diameter. The filter efficiency is also considerably high at about 95 percent. There are instructions concerning wearing the device that the user must follow to ensure maximum protection. For instance, the user must check to ensure that the piece fits well on the face before getting in the area of work.

The dressing procedures and all seal checks needed are normally specified by the manufacturer in the manual the product comes with. Since manufacturers make these products differently, one should not assume that donning or seal checks are the same. It is important to read the manual to be sure. Such assumptions may result in exposures to dangerous materials against which protection is being sort. Replacements should be done to any article one has trough breathing through because of damages or soiling.

These devices can be applied in several different settings. Researchers, health practitioners, and animal handlers are among the most common users. Places of application include all work places that have contaminants that can be blocked by the appliance. Some employers may also make it a requirement for employees to wear these safety devices when at the working place. All users are required to attend an annual training and fit test in the United States.

An individual does not have to attend the training physically. There are sites that offer online training to the public. An inspector can be called to conduct a fit test after completing the online training. This type of respirator is meant for one-time usage hence must be disposed properly after removing. Certain jurisdictions consider it an offence to re-use the item.

Certain limitations are associated with these devices and users should know about them. One of the limitations is that they do not provide protection against chemicals. The efficiency of the device is sometimes reduced by facial hair. The hair prevents the sealing surface from forming a tight seal. Protection against certain hazards like silica, lead, and asbestos is not possible.

At certain concentration levels the device is considered inefficient and cannot be used. For example, the device is useless if the level of concentration of the harmful substance is ten times. Voluntary use is not discouraged even if levels of exposures lie below the lowest limits recommended for wearing the equipment.

Touching the outside of the appliance after being in a contaminated area is discouraged. This is because the surface of the device is considered to be contaminated. Hands should also be washed well afterwards.




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