Below I'll run you through the ABC of selecting the right equipment; but first, some simple background facts.

RPE works on one of two basic principles: either as a respirator, which protects by filtering out contaminants from the air; or breathing apparatus, which protects by supplying clean air. Breathing apparatus can give a much higher protection than respirators. In this article, I will concentrate on the filtering type: respirators. To be honest, if your problem is so big that you need breathing apparatus then you need more than I can give you in and article, so buy in some expertise!

OK, so we're concentrating on filtering respirators. Again they spilt down into two groups: those that have to fit tightly to your face and those that don't. The group of tightly fitting respirators can either cover your full face, or just half your face - nose and mouth. Not surprisingly, these are called full-face and half-face respirators. Some full-face respirators can be fitted with a fan that draws air into the mask, and these give higher protection. The loose-fitting group may be a face-shield, hood or hood and blouse. They are all fitted with a fan to draw air into the respirator.

And lastly, because they are respirators, we have to think about the filter. All respirators are either fitted with a filter or, if they are disposable, they are made of the filter material. It is the filter that removes the contaminant and there are different types depending on the contaminant. There are different filters, for example, for dusts and mists, solvent vapours, and gases of various types. Some filters are combinations, giving protection against different contaminants. This brings us to the ABC. A. What is the contaminant? B. How much of it is there? C. Who is going to use it, where and how? Let us have a look at these in a little more detail.

A. What is the contaminant? This decides what filter you need. Dusts and mists usually simple, because they just come under 'particulate' filters: they filter out all kind of particles. But if you have a chemical, solvent, gas, you need to be a precise as possible so that the supplier can recommend the correct filter.

B. How much of it is there? This decides what type of respirator you need, because they have differing protective abilities. What is the concentration in the air? Ideally, you will know this from air measurements. Certainly, you need to do this if you are dealing with something quite toxic. But often, 'a lot', 'quite a lot', or 'not much' will do. Disposable half-masks will reduce exposures by about 5 to 20 times, depending on their construction. Full-face masks, visors, hoods and so on, will reduce exposure by about 40 times.

C. Who is going to use it, where and how? The respirator has to fit the worker comfortably otherwise it will not fit properly and they probably won't wear it. Try out several types. There may be workplace factors which need to be taken into account. For example, do workers need good visibility, is the workplace hot? And how will they use the equipment, for how long, in what circumstances. These are all called worker and workplace factors. The equipment has to be right for the work and right for the worker - which is where that vast range of products comes in!

So, now you have your well-chosen RPE. Here are just a few more things to think about. Firstly, respirators can only take away contaminants: they cannot add anything to the air - like oxygen. So don't be tempted to use them where there may be a shortage of oxygen. Second, if the respirator is of the tight-fitting type the worker should have a face-fit test. This is to make sure there are no leaks around the seal. Ask your supplier if they do the tests or if they can recommend anyone. Third, make sure your workers understand what the respirator can and can' to; train them to put on, wear and store the respirator properly. The training may not be long or complicated, but if the worker uses the respirator wrongly they won't get the protection. Forth, if the respirator is disposable, throw it away after use. If it is not, maintain it according to the supplier's instructions.

And finally, it is often said that respiratory protective equipment is the 'last resort' for protecting workers. It is more correct to say that protecting workers fully comes from a mixture of measures and that RPE should be the last ingredient to add to the mixture, if necessary.

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Niall is a full-time health and safety professional. He has work in the fields of health or health and safety for over thirty years.