What Influences The Purchase Of Respiratory Protective Equipment?

The purchase of Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) is influenced by various factors, particularly in industries in which workers face hazardous environmental conditions. Regulations, emerging health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the nature of workplace hazards, and the lifespan of equipment all play a role in determining which type of RPE is necessary and when it should be replaced.

In this article, we’ll summarise the key factors that may influence the purchase of RPE.

Regulatory Requirements

Different industries, such as healthcare, construction, and firefighting, are governed by strict regulations that mandate how RPE should be used. The regulations are designed to protect workers from exposure to hazardous substances such as dust, chemicals, and airborne pathogens. For instance, construction workers are required to wear respirators to prevent the inhalation of asbestos or silica, while firefighters need RPE to protect against smoke and toxic fumes. Employers in many industries are required by law to ensure their staff are equipped with adequate RPE that meets regulatory standards, making compliance an important consideration when purchasing respiratory protective equipment.

Emerging Health Crises

The global COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the demand for RPE. The healthcare industry, in particular, saw an unprecedented increase in the need for effective respiratory protection, particularly as standard clinical masks were not necessarily proficient at preventing the spread of infection between health workers and patients. According to a report by the National Audit Office, 75 million unsuitable respirators were ordered for the NHS during the pandemic, costing £214 million, while another 195 million potentially suitable respirators were also procured. The surge in demand, especially for disposable masks and respirators, strained global supply chains, sharpened the focus on the availability of RPE and highlighted the importance of selecting equipment that accommodates specific risks in healthcare environments.

Workplace Hazards

Workplace hazards should significantly influence the type of RPE purchased. Different respirators are designed to protect against specific dangers, such as chemicals, dust, or biological agents. For example, a healthcare worker dealing with infectious diseases might use a disposable respirator such as a Filtering Face Piece (FFP) or N95, while a worker in a chemical plant may require a full-face respirator with a higher protection factor.

The “protection factor” measures the effectiveness of the respiratory protection device usually marked on the packaging as “APF” - assigned protection factor. An assigned protection factor of 10 indicates that the RPE, when used correctly, should reduce the exposure of the wearer to the hazard by a factor of 10. In the case of a particulate hazard for example, if there was a concentration of 1000 particles in the air the wearer should expect to be exposed to less than 100. Industries must evaluate the specific hazards to which their workers are exposed, to ensure they purchase the right type of RPE. The wrong choice could lead to inadequate protection, putting employees’ health at risk.

Replacing Old Respirators

RPE has a limited shelf life, and using expired equipment can compromise safety. Over time, respiratory protective equipment tends to degrade, reducing its effectiveness. Employers must keep track of storage expiry dates and replace respirators and filters whenever required. The regular need for replacement ensures that industries are continuously investing in up-to-date and functional RPE to maintain worker safety.

Cost

Purchasing or replacing respiratory protective equipment can be considered expensive, especially if the RPE is disposable instead of reusable. However, it is considered a critical and worthwhile investment that can help protect your workers, creating a safer work environment as well as helping your business avoid costly fines.

Costs will very often reflect on performance and care should be taken to ensure that any respiratory protective equipment purchased is up to the task. For example, FFP3 masks, which are typically higher in cost, should provide a protection factor of 20* (reducing the number of particles the wearer is exposed to by 20) while an FFP1 respirator, typically a lower cost option, will only provide a protection factor of 4*. This is particularly important when purchasing Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR) as the common perception is that these are all very similar when in fact a lower cost option, rated as TH1** may provide a protection factor of 10, less than that of a FFP3 disposable respirator.

RPE and PPE, in general, can affect the mobility, visibility, and breathing comfort of the wearer. This may limit the amount of time the wearer is able to withstand wearing the equipment. Investing in equipment that is suited for the environment where the work is being carried out may help solve this issue, which could lead to higher efficiency and a significant reduction in expenses. A paint shop claimed they reduced their expenses by 23% by switching to more efficient and suitable solutions for their business.

Choosing efficient respiratory protective equipment that is built to last can also benefit the total cost of ownership of your business, therefore helping you save more money in the long term while complying with the regulations. Purchasing quality equipment will not only lead to lower maintenance costs, but it will also ensure that the equipment will last longer, allowing your staff to stay protected during their work hours for longer periods of time, increasing their comfort, and reducing the need for breaks.

Reusable vs Disposable

While disposable equipment might cost lower upfront, their short lifespan makes them an unsuitable investment for the long run. On the contrary, reusable RPEs can not only be used more than once, but you can also replace the filter to keep them viable and working adequately, which can extend their lifespan considerably. Nonetheless, to ensure the good functioning of reusable respiratory protective equipment regular maintenance is essential. Not only is a higher time investment required by wearers (a thorough examination is needed at least once a month), but they will also need to increase their maintenance budget compared to disposable options.

To ensure businesses are making an informed decision, it is also important to mention the environmental impact that comes with the use of respirators. Disposable equipment must be disposed of depending on the type of contaminant it has been exposed to and according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Reusable respiratory protective equipment, on the other hand, when considered contaminated, needs to be thoroughly cleaned and or repaired (if possible) before being reused, making them a more environmentally friendly option.

Find Out More

The importance of RPE should not be underestimated, for expert advice about purchasing replacement respirators for your organisation or to find out more about our professional Face Fit testing training, please get in touch with Fire Safe International today.

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