Respiratory protective equipment

A construction worker in Cologne wearing PPE.

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]}

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

References

1. "14 CFR § 25.1439 - Protective breathing equipment". www.law.cornell.edu. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
2. RPE
3. "What is RPE?". www.hse.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
4. Health and Safety Executive, ppe
5. Health and Safety Executive, hswa
6. Health and Safety Executive, coshh
7. Health and Safety Executive, How do I choose he right respiratory protective equipment (RPE)?, accessed 20 June 2020
8. "Supplier of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), workwear, consumables, safety equipment, janitorial products and safety signage". tiger-supplies.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-03-14.