Inside the workshop, not all masks and respirators are created equal, so don’t assume the crumpled N95 in your pocket will protect your lungs—it depends on the hazard you’re up against.
Masks for filtering out tiny particles
Particulate hazards include sawdust, insulation fibre, and even household dust. Look for a respirator with a safety rating. The rating’s letter describes how well it filters oily particles: N is not resistant to oil, R is somewhat resistant, and P is strongly resistant. The number designates how much the respirator filters out—a well-fitting N95 filters 95 per cent of particles, and a P100 filters 99.97 per cent of particles, oil-based or not.
Both disposable and reusable respirators can filter particulates. Compared to respirators with a flexible seal at the edge (below right), respirators made of moulded filter material (below left), commonly called “dust masks,” are more comfortable, but they can be difficult to fit and less effective. Opt for a reusable, well-sealed respirator if you’re making a lot of dust.
5 tips to control sawdust
Masks for absorbing hazardous vapours
Don’t use a disposable respirator if you need protection against vapours or gases. Instead, use a reusable half- or full-mask respirator with the appropriate cartridge. Filter cartridges come in a literal rainbow of options, colour-coded by hazard type.
For petroleum-based liquids, including many solvents, paint thinner, and gasoline, you need a respirator with an organic vapour cartridge—OV on the label—which contains activated carbon to absorb these vapours.
On its own, carbon can’t absorb all gases or vapours. Manufacturers add metals and salts to the carbon to remove ammonia (AM on the respirator label) and acid gases (AG) such as bleach and pool chemicals.
This article was originally published in the March/April 2023 issue of Cottage Life.
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