How to handle respirators safely

Only if you can rely completely on your equipment, you can focus on your job. With the functionality test immediately before use you can have total peace of mind: Does the mask fit tightly? Is there enough air in the tank? Are the warning mechanisms working?

A full beard is a >No go< for respiratory protection. But even a one-, two- or three-day beard causes problems: the shorter the stubble, the more they push the sealing contour of the mask away from your skin. That's why it's better to shave too often than not often enough.

The only way to find out if a mask is suitable for you is to take part in a simulation or training. Be careful when fitting a mask and double-check your size if you have recently gained or lost weight. Before each use, always check again to make sure the mask fits tightly.

Generally, one tank of clean air is enough for 30 minutes of use (depending on the tank size and pressure). For industrial uses, the air inside your protective suit must last until the suit is decontaminated and you have taken it off. That alone can take several minutes.

Firefighters only have a few minutes to put on their respiratory protection gear. That means there's no time to spare. Therefore, regular training is essential: preferably stop the time for donning your equipment under realistic conditions including wearing your full equipment.

Do you have a fever? Headache? Runny nose? If you're feeling under the weather, you've got no business putting on respiratory protection gear - not even for training purposes, because training is also physically demanding.

The more difficult your job, the more physically demanding for you – e.g. resulting in circulation problems. It helps to keep in good physical shape, to train your body and take breaks to recover. Another useful aid is using powered-air purifying respirators.

Any type of breathing filter reaches its saturation point eventually. You can tell if a filter needs to be replaced when in particle filters, breathing resistance increases noticeably. In gas filters, there is a recognisable odour or taste.

Respiratory protection masks are built to last, but they are not indestructible. Over time, plastic visors may become scratched to the point that they are no longer usable. That's why it's very important to also handle masks with care.

A common cause of accidents when using respiratory protection is careless handling of the tanks. Always position the tanks carefully to prevent them from rolling over and breaking a valve. With a filling pressure of 300 bar, a compressed air tank is like a miniature torpedo.

Even a tiny object like a stray hair inside the mask can cause lots of irritation. That's why you should always take great care when cleaning and disinfecting respiratory protection masks. A clean mask is a safe mask.

Using respiratory protection gear is hard work. You're in much better shape to handle strains like heavy equipment and breathing resistance if you keep physically fit. That means having a normal BMI, a healthy diet and avoiding smoking and alcohol.