Field Performance Measurements of Half-Facepiece Respirators—Study Protocol

Abstract

This article presents the research protocol used for a series of field studies that were conducted to measure workplace protection factors (WPF) for elastomeric and disposable half-facepiece respirators against particulate contaminants. The protocol was used for studies at three brass foundries, an aircraft painting operation, and a steel mill sinter plant. Particulate contaminants evaluated in these industries-operations included various metal dusts and fumes and paint overspray that included metallic pigment. In this article findings are reported on aspects of the sampling and analytical methodology that were employed for the first time in these studies. These include (1) collection of WPF samples during different parts of the shift, (2) collection of respirable dust samples, (3) washing of sample cassettes, and (4) use of proton induced X-ray emission analysis. Workplace protection factor results measured after the respirator was worn for several hours were generally higher than those measured when it ...