Safety Tip of the Week – Care for Your Respirator

Your respirator may be the most important tool of your job. It protects your most precious asset, your health. Yet, more often than not, respirators find their way to the bottom of tools bags where they become damaged and/or very dirty inside and out. Both of these conditions compromise the protection the respirator is designed to provide and that, in turn, can be detrimental to your health. Like most tools, respirators require periodic inspection, cleaning, and repair.

Cleaning & Disinfecting:

Respirators with replaceable filters are reusable, cleanable, and usually repairable. The same worker may reuse a respirator classified as disposable as long as it functions properly.

Guidelines for Cleaning Should Include These Steps:

• Remove filters, cartridges, or canisters;
• Disassemble facepieces by removing speaking diaphragms, demand and pressure-demand valves assemblies, hoses, or any components recommended by the manufacturer. Discard or repair any defective parts;
• Wash the parts in warm (43 °C [110 °F] maximum) water with a mild detergent or with a cleaner recommended by the manufacturer;
• Rinse components thoroughly in clean, warm water;
• Hand-dry with a clean lint-free cloth or air-dry;
• Reassemble; and
• Test before re-using.

Inspection:

All respirators must be inspected before and after each use and during and after cleaning.

Storing:

A cleaned respirator should be stored in a resealable plastic bag away from extreme heat and extreme cold, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals.

SAVE YOUR BREATH…WEAR YOUR RESPIRATOR!