Half-Mask Respirator Selection for a Mixed Worker Group

Abstract

Abstract Air-purifying, half-mask respirators are appropriate for an increasing number of work atmospheres. Due to the great number of human facial variations, no one respirator face piece will fit all workers. This situation is complicated further by the fact that most masks are designed for males. A major problem confronting industry is the growing proportion of women requiring respirators who cannot obtain satisfactory fits. This project was designed to comparatively analyze the protection men and women are afforded by three brands (nine sizes) of commercially available half-mask respirators. Anthropometric (in this case, facial) measurements and quantitative protection factors were obtained from 61 male and 60 female civilian workers. The quantitative fit test results showed that 4.9 percent of men and 5 percent of women did not receive an adequate fit factor when tested with two randomly chosen brands of the three selected brands of half-mask respirators. No statistically different values were found ...