Rank: Forum user 
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Good morning all,
Having just received an email from the Clean Air? Take Care! newsletter brought by Health & Safety Matters in association with the HSE and BSIF, I was a little surprised to read in the RPE Guide that Respirators (i.e the filter masks) 'Must never be used in confined spaces, areas of low oxygen levels or very high contaminant levels'.
http://www.cleanairtakec...%20Selection%20Guide.pdf
I am aware of, and completely agree with, the second 2 restrictions in use (i.e. low oxygen levels and very high contaminant levels) but I was not aware that they should not ever be used in confined spaces - in our case chemical manufacture vessels (approx. 2-3 metre deep).
Can anyone clarify if this is an enforced restriction?
Thanks,
bereznikov
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Rank: Forum user
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bereznikov
This is not enforced but guidance based on the RPE selector form found in HSG53 "RPE at work a practical guide". The guidance suggests that where the work area is identified as a confined space and where you have demonstrated by risk assessment that you cannot work from outside the confined space then BA with a minimum PF of 40 is required.
The rationale for this is that respirators cannot protect against oxygen deficiency (obviously) and other toxic substances may be present in lethal concentrations.
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks for the info bedsfire.
I think the guidance could be made clearer, especially seeing as not all confined spaces pose such threats after control measures have been implemented prior to vessel entry.
Thanks for the clarification.
bereznikov
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