What you breathe matters

It is estimated that there are 12,000 lung disease deaths each year, linked to past exposure at work¹. As part of an effective respiratory control programme, a high-quality respirator, worn correctly, every time can help reduce work-related exposure to potentially harmful airborne contaminants.

3M offers a wide selection of CE approved Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) to help protect against particulates, gases, vapours or a combination of these hazards. The width and depth of the 3M^™ Respiratory Protection product range provides a wide selection of respiratory equipment across various applications, needs and budgets. Customers can choose the protection level, comfort, and maintenance requirements they need to work safely and comfortably.

Is your respirator helping to reduce your exposure to potentially harmful airborne particles? Choosing the right respirator can be challenging. 3M's simple 3 Step Guide can help you reduce your workers' exposure to hazardous airborne particles in the workplace..

3M offers a wide selection of CE approved disposable respirators, also known as disposable masks or filtering facepiece respirators to help protect against particulates. With models offering FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3 protection, you can be sure to find the right disposable respirator for your needs. 3M prioritises fit and can help workplaces achieve comfort and compliance. Our disposable respirators feature adjustable noseclips, a variety of head strap types and some models feature the innovative 3M^™ Cool Flow^™ valve, designed to provide greater comfort.

3M provides a full range of reusable respirators with half mask or full facepiece options to protect against particulates, gases and vapours. Options available for integrated or replaceable filters. Many models are fully maintainable and may be cleaned, stored and reused provided they are in good condition.

3M P&SA can offer integrated eye, face, head, neck and hearing protection in one system avoiding incompatibility issues between items of PPE. Our modular system allows customers to mix and match items as your environments or application changes.

Selecting the right respirator is just the first step – looking after it properly is essential to stay protected, respiratory filters do not last forever. Once a gas & vapour filter has been used to its full capacity, it will no longer offer any protection. An overused particulate filter will still protect you, but it will be hard to breathe through, leading to fatigue & reduced productivity.

As a very minimum, filters must be changed when:

• The expiry date stamped on the sealed packet has elapsed.
• Gas and vapour or combination filters should be changed before the contaminant can be smelled or tasted. However, if an odour or taste is perceived, when the wearer coughs or experiences discomfort, this indicates filters are not being changed often enough and the filter change schedule should be adjusted. The sense of smell should not be relied upon as the primary indicator.
• The filter becomes difficult to breathe through (particulate or combination filters)
• The filter has been out of its packaging for 6 months or more (gas and vapour or combination filters)
• The filter shows any sign of damage
• In accordance with your established Filter Change Schedule

The use of respiratory protection filters can be confusing and complicated and there are a number of common questions and issues that arise regularly. The questions and answers here try to briefly cover these.

A good fit means the respirator seals against your skin. A "tight fitting" respirator, such as a disposable respirator, or a reusable respirator such as a half mask or full-face mask can only work when air passes through the filter(s). Air will take the path of least resistance, so if the seal to the face isn't there, the air will leak around, rather than go through the filter(s), and therefore lessen the protection. One of the common issues with good respirator fit is facial hair and as a result those wearing tight fitting respirators should be clean shaven where the respirator seals to the face.

Proper selection, training, use and appropriate maintenance are essential in order for the product to help protect the wearer from certain airborne contaminants. Failure to follow all instructions on the use of these respiratory protection products and/or failure to properly wear the complete product during all periods of exposure may adversely affect the wearer's health, lead to severe or life threatening illness or permanent disability.