Respiratory protective equipment
Equipment to protect the user from breathing contaminated air
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Respiratory protective equipment (RPE), also called protective breathing equipment (PBE) in the US,[1] is a form of personal protective equipment designed to protect the wearer from a variety of airborne hazards in the form of a gas, fume, mist, dust or vapour. Respirators filter the air to remove harmful particles and alongside the breathing apparatus (BA) provides clean air for the worker to breathe.[2][3]
UK legislation
RPE is covered by a number of UK laws including:
- Personal Protective Equipment Regulations, 2002 [4]
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974[5]
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.[6]
The Health and Safety Executive advises that RPE should be appropriate for the needs of the wearer, the task they are undertaking and the environment in which it takes place.[7][8]
See also
- Air filter – Device which removes solid particulates from the air
- Breathing apparatus – Equipment allowing or assisting the user to breathe in a hostile environment
- Cartridges and canisters of air-purifying respirators – Container that cleans pollution from air inhaled through it
- Gas mask – Protection from inhaling airborne pollutants and toxic gases
- Powered air-purifying respirator – Full-face respirator that provides filtered air to the wearer using an electric fan
- Respirator – Device worn to protect the user from inhaling contaminants
- Automated breathing metabolic simulator
