In today's industrial landscape, the air we breathe is more critical than ever. Exposure to airborne hazards, ranging from dust and fumes to harmful vapours, pose a significant health risk across various sectors. The number of workplace accidents has decreased by 25% over the last 10 years. However, work-related diseases still account for an estimated 2.4 million deaths worldwide each year, 200,000 of which are in Europe. This is why ensuring the correct respiratory protection is not just a regulatory requirement but a fundamental aspect of workplace safety as well.
The Necessity for Respiratory Protection
Respirators are essential devices that have been designed to shield users from inhaling dangerous substances, such as chemicals and infectious particles. They are among the most vital pieces of protective equipment in hazardous environments.
Selecting the appropriate respirator can be difficult but here at best4safety we have a dedicated team that will ensure you and your employees have the right protection. They will conduct a thorough assessment of your workplace, your day-to-day work, and any environments that may present respiratory hazards. Identifying these hazards and determining their airborne concentrations are crucial steps before choosing suitable respiratory protection and that’s why it is best to have an expert help you because nothing is more important than protecting your health.
Disposable Face Masks
These are an excellent choice for workplaces where cleaning and maintenance is not practical. Constructed from advanced materials, including 3M™ Advanced Electret Filter Media, 3M™ Disposable Respirators are designed for comfort and protection, allowing your team to give their best. Please see our range of Disposable Face Masks.
Reusable 3M Half & Full Face Masks Respirators
These can help to reduce cost and waste* in workplaces where regular cleaning and maintenance is possible. Designed to be easy-to-use and utilising comfortable, durable materials, 3M™ Reusable Respirators will help to give your team confidence in their protection. Please see our range of Half and Full Face Masks.
Powered and Supplied Air Respirators
The TR-300E+-ECK is a complete powered air respirator system featuring a powered air turbo and filter designed for particulate respiratory protection, including everything required to get started. Intended for use in operations where it is important to be able to easily clean the powered air respirator system.
The TR-600E-HIK is a complete powered air respirator system featuring a powered air turbo designed to be used with particulate or gas and vapour filters for respiratory protection and including everything required to get started. This ready-to-use kit provides a simple way to purchase a complete powered air respirator system for use in rugged industrial environments.
The TR-800E-PSK is a completely powered air respirator system with an Intrinsically Safe powered air turbo that includes everything required to get started for use in paint spray operations.
Powered air respirators for welding
3M™ Speedglas™ Welding Helmet G5-01 with 3M™ Adflo™ High-Altitude Powered Air Respirator offers the highest safety class for powered air systems: EN 12941 TH3 – NPF500. Get eye, face and respiratory protection with a flip-up welding filter optimised for the needs of heavy-duty welding and can also be used for most welding and grinding applications.
3M™ Speedglas™ Welding Helmet 9100 Air, 567726 provides eye, face and respiratory protection with a front panel that houses external controls for grinding mode. Our welding helmet comes with 3M™ Powered Air Respirator and welding filter 9100XXi. 3M™ Speedglas™ Welding Filter 9100 Series continues our tradition of outstanding optical quality, including uniform shading and minimal distortion across the entire filter viewing area.
Work-related respiratory diseases claim lives.
A range of lung diseases can be caused by exposures in the workplace, including:
- Respiratory cancers, including lung cancer and mesothelioma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Silicosis, asbestosis and other forms of pneumoconiosis
- Occupational asthma
- Diffuse pleural thickening and pleural plaques
- Allergic alveolitis and byssinosis
Many of these conditions are severe and can lead to death or significant disability. Most are 'long latency diseases, meaning they develop many years after the workplace exposures that caused or contributed to them. The main exceptions are occupational asthma and allergic alveolitis, which can develop more quickly. 519,000 global lives are lost to chronic respiratory illness due to past exposure at work, this is why it is vital to get the right protection straight away to prevent that number from rising.
Prioritising respiratory protection is essential for safeguarding health in environments with airborne hazards. 3M's extensive range of respiratory solutions ensures that businesses can provide their workforce with the necessary protection to maintain safety and productivity.
