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April 23, 2012
Your Health

Respiratory Protection on the Farm and Ranch

Farmers and ranchers often work in areas where air quality can be less than ideal. Agricultural producers working in such conditions should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to decrease their risk of contracting a respiratory impairment. (Click here to learn more about respiratory illnesses related to production agriculture.) Individuals who should use respiratory protection are those working around dust, mold spores, silage, fish meal, agricultural chemicals, solvents and toxic gases in confined animal housing.

Respiratory hazards fall into one of three categories:

  1. 1. Particulate contaminants: Dusts, mists and fumes contaminate the air with particles that can be inhaled.
  2. 2. Gases and vapors: Gases are chemicals that are gaseous at room temperature, such as those found in silos and manure pits. Vapors are released from liquid applications, such as pesticides and adhesives.
  3. 3. Oxygen-deficient atmosphere: Oxygen levels can be almost as low as 5% in such areas as sealed silos, manure storage facilities and controlled atmospheric storage for fruits and vegetables.

Your respiratory protective equipment must be properly fitted for you, designed for the job that you need to complete, and specific to your work environment. A single type of respiratory protection does not fit all work situations, so it is critical to identify the appropriate type of respiratory protective equipment for each situation.


Curtis Koehn

Nuisance mask.

Nuisance dust mask

A nuisance dust mask is constructed of extremely light filter paper. A single thin elastic circles your head to secure the mask. This type of mask provides protection against large dust particles, but provides little to no protection against smaller airborne particles. Wear this type of mask only if you have had no prior respiratory impairment and are completing a short-term task involving nontoxic dust, such as sweeping the floor of a garage or shop. A nuisance dust mask is not a respirator.

Respirators

A respirator is a device that protects the respiratory tract. There are two types of respirators: air-purifying respirators and supplied-air respirators.

Air-purifying respirators are useful when working around moldy hay in areas such as barn lofts and during pesticide applications. This type of respirator is also called a "negative-pressure respirator" because the wearer uses his or her own breath to move air through the respirator, inhaling and pulling air through the filter. Producers who have any type of respiratory limitation, such as asthma or cardiovascular problems, should check with their physicians prior to using air-purifying respirators.

The following descriptions will help you determine the type of air-purifying respirator needed for your work.

Curtis Koehn

Disposable particulate respirator

The disposable particulate respirator is commonly referred to as a dust mask, but it should not be confused with a nuisance dust mask. Main uses for the disposable particulate respirator include protection from dusts, mists and some fumes in jobs such as haying, applying fertilizer and grinding feed.

The unit is a molded mask that covers the user's nose and mouth, held in place by two elastic straps. The filter is made of fibrous material that traps particles as you inhale. This type of respirator can be disposable or reusable, but should be disposed of when saturated with a liquid. Replace the filter of a disposable mask when: breathing becomes difficult, the mask loses its shape, the mask does not seal to your face, or you can taste or smell a substance known to be in the air.

All particulate respirators approved under the most recent testing requirements have a certification label displaying emblems from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Chemical cartridge respirators use an absorbent material, such as activated charcoal, to absorb contaminants and filter out low concentrations of toxic gases and vapors. A chemical cartridge respirator consists of a soft, silicone facepiece that covers the nose and mouth and a valve to regulate air movement through the filter. This type of respirator is appropriate for areas that have vapors and dust because these respirators can be equipped with the necessary filters. Half-mask models can be disposable or reusable. Because a full-face mask provides eye and face protection, it offers greater protection against contaminants.

Typically, the filtering cartridge screws into the front of the mask. You can select and insert the correct cartridge for the type of gas or vapor contaminant in your work area. Cartridges are color-coded according to the type of gas or vapor contaminant they filter. Black, for example, indicates a cartridge that filters organic vapors; green, a cartridge that filters ammonia. For more information about cartridges and to view a chart that explains cartridge color-coding, click here.

Replace cartridges after eight hours of use, when you begin to smell or taste the contaminant (a situation called "breakthrough"), or when dizziness or irritation occurs. Do not use a chemical cartridge respirator in areas that may contain gases designated as immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH).

A gas mask is also called a chemical canister respirator. The canister holds more chemical absorbent than a chemical cartridge, and gas masks can be used in areas where gases are extremely toxic and/or highly concentrated. The canister can be mounted on a person's belt, worn on the back or chest, or screwed onto the mask at the chin and connected to the facepiece via an air hose.

Replace the canister of a gas mask after eight hours of use or when breakthrough occurs. This unit is a full-face piece and should not be worn in areas considered IDLH.

Curtis Koehn

Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR)

Unlike a negative-pressure respirator that requires breathing to move air through a respirator, a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) is equipped with a motorized blower that forces air through the filtering device. For this reason, PAPRs are also called "positive-pressure respirators." This type of respirator is recommended for individuals who have respiratory impairments or cardiovascular conditions.

Most PAPRs have a hard helmet and rigid visor, although half-masks and full-face models with nonrigid helmets are also available. A PAPR with a full-face mask or closable hood provides the greatest protection against contaminants. Depending on the filter that you are using, the PAPR can be used to provide protection against dusts, mists, gases and vapors. With a constant flow of air, the unit is cooler for the user. The power source for a PAPR is either D batteries (disposable or rechargeable) or a 12V or 24V DC adaptor that can be powered from a vehicle battery.

This unit should not be worn in areas considered IDLH.

A supplied-air respirator provides the user with fresh, clean air from an outside source. The two types of supplied-air respirators are air-line respirators and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). An air-line respirator provides clean air via a hose (up to 300 ft.) that is connected to a stationary air pump or tank located in a clean-air area. The SCBA has a portable air tank that is carried on the back, similar to the unit carried by a scuba diver or firefighter.

Supplied-air respirators are very expensive and require proper fit and maintenance to operate correctly. In addition, a user should receive instructions for using this type of respirator and should practice its use.

A supplied-air respirator is the only respirator that should be worn in an area considered IDLH, such as a manure pit or sealed silo. Using a supplied-air respirator is the only safe way to enter an area considered IDLH because of potentially dangerous gas levels and lack of oxygen. As an agricultural producer, you risk your life by entering an oxygen-deficient atmosphere without a supplied-air respirator.


Filtering efficiency
A respirator is rated according to its efficiency in reducing the user's exposure to dust, mists, and fumes and its time-use limits against oil-based chemicals or pesticides in the air. The filter efficiency is represented by a letter — N, P or R — followed by a percentage. The letter indicates whether the respirator is resistant to oil and for how long. The percentage indicates the filter efficiency, or the percentage of airborne contaminants the filter removes. Typical efficiencies are 95%, 99% or 99.97%, with higher percentages having greater efficiencies.

N-series respirators are not resistant to airborne oils and can plug quickly.

R-series respirators are resistant to airborne oils for up to eight hours.

P-series respirators are oilproof and, depending on the given respirator, may be resistant to airborne particles for up to eight hours. P-series filters should be changed every 40 hours or 30 days, whichever comes first.

These ratings appear on respiratory units, prefilters, cartridges, packaging and advertisements. Some common filter efficiency labeling is shown below:

N95 – Particulate Filter: 95% filter efficiency against particulate aerosols free of oil

R99 – Particulate Filter: 99% filter efficiency against all particulate aerosols

P100 – Particulate Filter: 99.97% filter efficiency against all particulate aerosols

Purchasing and maintaining your respirator

After you have determined the type of respirator that you need for your farm or ranch, locate suppliers in your area. Visit your local farm store, agricultural chemical dealer, or industrial safety equipment distributor to try on different brands and styles in order to select the respirator that fits your needs. If possible, have a trained person teach you how to perform a "fit test" to make sure that you have the best seal with your face.

Check the facial fit of your respirator each time that you use it to ensure that you are getting the maximum protection. Glasses, gum or tobacco chewing, and facial hair can negatively affect the seal of your respirator. If you experience a break in the seal, smell or taste a contaminant, or experience dizziness or irritation while you are wearing the respirator, leave the contaminated area immediately and enter an area with fresh air.

Never wear contact lenses when wearing your respirator because of the potential for exposure to contaminants that can stick to the lenses or damage your eyes. Adaptors for prescription eyewear are available that fit inside the facepiece of full-face respirators.

Maintain your respirator by cleaning it frequently with warm, soapy water. Be sure to remove all cartridges and filters before immersing the respirator in water. Thoroughly dry the unit and store it in a sealed plastic bag to prevent cartridges from absorbing vapors and filters from collecting dust.

Inspect your respirator regularly for damage to the facepiece or head straps, dirt around the facepiece, missing valve covers, and loss of elasticity in the head straps. Replace only those parts, such as filters and head straps, that are designed to be replaced. Contact the manufacturer or dealer concerning major part replacement and repairs.

Click here to view a video about respiratory protection on the farm or ranch.

Editor's Note: Respiratory protection for the farm and ranch. (2012) Farm and Ranch eXtension in Safety and Health (FReSH) Community of Practice. Retrieved from http://www.extension.org/pages/63440/respiratory-protection-on-the-farm-and-ranch

Article summarized by Linda M. Fetzer, Pennsylvania State University, for the Extension News. Reviewers: LaMar J. Grafft, University of Iowa; Dennis J. Murphy, Pennsylvania State University; J. Samuel Steel, Pennsylvania State University; and Aaron M. Yoder, Pennsylvania State University.

Sources:

General respiratory protection guidance for employers and workers. (n.d.). OSHA Bulletin. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Retrieved from http://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/respiratory_protection.pdf.

Grisso, R., Gay, S. W., Hetzel, G., and Stone, B. (2009) Respiratory protection in agriculture. Virginia Cooperative Extension. Retrieved from http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-601/442-601_pdf.pdf.

Jester, R. & Malone, G. (2004) Respiratory health on the poultry farm. University of Delaware Cooperative Extension. Retrieved from http://ag.udel.edu/extension/safety/farmsafety/pdf/sz-07.pdf.

Metzler, R. and Szalajda, J. (2011) NIOSH approval labels – key information to protect yourself. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2011-179/pdfs/2011-179.pdf.

Murphy, D. J., Harshman, W. C., and LaCross, C. M. (2006) Farm respiratory protection. Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension. Retrieved from http://www.agsafety.psu.edu/factsheets/E36.pdf.

New classifications help match protection to hazard. (n.d.) Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health. Retrieved from http://www.elcosh.org/en/document/94/d000102/respirators.html.




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