Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
ctd167  
#1 Posted : 15 March 2013 10:09:50(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
ctd167

All our operatives are issued with half face RPE for a variety of tasks, usually of a fairly short duration. However in certain circumstances, the mask, along with safety goggles has to be worn for extended periods. I have this morning recieved a complaint that the wearing of both these items for extended periods is proving uncomfortable due to goggles steaming up and the mask sealing against the face. We have previously disregarded the use of disposable masks for obvious reasons and other than going down the line of full face protection, has anybody any suggestions how to overcome this problem?
Kate  
#2 Posted : 15 March 2013 10:14:05(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

Some goggles do steam up more than others - some are designed to ventilate more. So you could look at changing the goggles. Your PPE supplier should be able to advise. Not sure what you mean by the mask sealing against the face?
David H  
#3 Posted : 15 March 2013 11:03:13(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
David H

Have these people been face fit tested as a leak around the nose area would cause the glasses to steam up. And why are they having to wear them for extended periods? The guidance would be to engineer a solution rather than have people depend on PPE for long periods. What is the process the people are being exposed to? David
Palmer20061  
#4 Posted : 15 March 2013 12:00:27(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Palmer20061

As David says – if face fit tested correctly the masks won’t/can’t leak & goggles won’t steam up (from this cause anyway). Wearing a half mask for a considerable period of time is uncomfortable – but probably better than a series of disposables (disposables should be ‘disposed’ of after every use – normally for heavy use this is considerably more expensive than a half mask.) If you do go for disposables you’ll have to face fit everyone (again?) - & you’ll find a greater failure rate too. You can get air hoods, which I’m told are ‘lightweight’ which continually blow air across the face of the user – most larger PPE suppliers will hold these. You don’t say what the operation is but can extraction be improved with on-tool extractors?
Users browsing this topic
Guest
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.