I am currently carrying out "Breathe Easy" training in my workplace for people who handle flour. I have asked for P3 dust masks to be avaialable for the training but the manager with resposibilility for ordering PPE has ordered P1 masks and informed the trainer that they will suffice as they are a dust mask. I have explained to him that the risk assessment advises and HSE guidance and best practice reccommend that this type is used. We are looking at LEV, however in the interim the operatives need to wear these masks to reduce the risk. This particular gentleman obtained his General Certificate some ten years ago as his role then included some Safety Responsibilities. Unfortunately he takes the attitude he is older and wiser with other members of staff and he knows best. I have asserted that these masks need to be purchased and he has done so grudgingly. How do I get him on side in terms of buying specific PPE rather than it having to turn in to a battle each time.

Just playing the Devils Advocate for the moment, Why isn't a P1 mask acceptable?

There would seem to be an issue with the authority and understanding of the relevant risk assessment.
Risk Assessments do not "advise", rather they establish suitable and sufficient control measures.

You will soon be embarking on statutory individual face-fit testing (I trust this is established via your risk assessment) and obviously you'll want the correct masks before you start. The training element of face-fit requires the correct masks (and the correct sizes).

As far as materials for training purposes go, these masks are of negligible value and most of the major suppliers will happily give you reasonable quantities of free samples - especially if they think they can sell you face-fit kit and/or services............

The document at no. 5, highlighted by Phil John, is about as good as it gets - it tells you what the HSE is expecting to see at your place of work and what kind of enforcement action they may consider if standards do not match up to expectations.

We are not a bakery but have exposure to flour and grain dust at around 2.4 x the WEL. We use LEV and RPE to control employee exposure. We often refer to the guidance for bakeries and/or agricultural premises but then try to tailor that to our site circumstances. I suspect our levels are fairly low in comparison to bakeries but I would be interested to know what levels are commonly found in a bakery.

When selecting RPE, the fact that flour dust is an Asthmagen is largey irrelevant as it is stated in HSG53 it is treated as Hazard Health Group A (Risk phrase 36/37/38). The key determining factors are then dustiness and amount handled. I would hazard a guess that the recommendation for P3 masks within the industry specific guidance is based on knowledge that bakeries generally handle very large volumes of flour. Though this may not necessarily be the case.

I'd again say that if this manager has NGC then he should be at least part way on board with H&S and open to persuasion. If he also has some control over budget it is best to get him onside with a reasoned argument. If you end up as P3 then so be it but if a lower PF is acceptable then go for it. The cost difference is significant and if you have lots of staff and they are changing frequently it soon adds up.