Respiratory protective equipment

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]

A construction worker in Cologne wearing PPE.

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 composed of fibrous or porous materials 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 itPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• 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