Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
There are two basic types of respirators:
•
Air-supplying respirators,
which supply clean, uncontaminated air
from an independent source.
•
Air-purifying respirators,
which remove contaminants from the
air around you.
1.
Air-Supplying Respirators
Air-supplying respirators are used in a few specialized situations where
other types of respirators are not protective enough. Use an air-supplying
respirator when the pesticide labeling tells you to do so. In addition, you
should use one when handling pesticides:
•
when the oxygen supply is low
•
during fumigation in enclosed areas, such as greenhouses or other
buildings, railcars, ship holds, or grain bins.
a.
Supplied-Air Respirators
These respirators pump clean air through a hose to the facemask. You are
limited to working within the distance between the hose and the supply of
clean air.
b.
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
This type of respirator supplies clean air from cylinders that you carry,
usually on your back. This lets you move more freely and over a wider area
than you can with a supplied-air respirator. Get training from competent in-
structors before using any type of respiratory protection, especially
self-contained breathing equipment. These devices contain a limited air supply
(usually about 30 minutes), which may be used up even more quickly in high
temperatures or with excessive exertion.
Figure 6.13
shows the different air-
supplying respirators, the airline and self-contained breathing apparatus.
2.
Air-Purifying Respirators
In most situations where pesticide handlers need to use a respirator, some
type of air-purifying respirator provides enough protection. Air-purifying res-
pirators will not protect you from fumigants, from extremely high concentra-
tions of vapor, or when the oxygen supply is low.
