Respiratory protective equipment
{{Short description|Equipment to protect the user from breathing contaminated air}}
File:Cologne Germany Industrial-work-with-Personal-Protective-Equipment-02.jpg wearing PPE.]]
Respiratory protective equipment (RPE), also called protective breathing equipment (PBE) in the US,{{cite web |title=14 CFR § 25.1439 - Protective breathing equipment |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/25.1439 |website=www.law.cornell.edu |access-date=2 August 2023 }} 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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160806164632/http://ppe-news.co.uk/rpe/ RPE]{{cite web |url=https://www.hse.gov.uk/respiratory-protective-equipment/what-is-rpe.htm |title=What is RPE? |website=www.hse.gov.uk |access-date=12 July 2023 }}
UK legislation
RPE is covered by a number of UK laws including:
- Personal Protective Equipment Regulations, 2002 Health and Safety Executive, [http://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/ppe.htm ppe]
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974Health and Safety Executive, [http://www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/hswa.htm hswa]
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.Health and Safety Executive, [http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm coshh]
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.Health and Safety Executive, [https://www.hse.gov.uk/respiratory-protective-equipment/how-to-choose.htm How do I choose he right respiratory protective equipment (RPE)?], accessed 20 June 2020{{Cite web |title=Supplier of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), workwear, consumables, safety equipment, janitorial products and safety signage |url=https://www.tiger-supplies.co.uk/ |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=tiger-supplies.co.uk}}
See also
- {{annotated link|Air filter}}
- {{annotated link|Breathing apparatus}}
- {{annotated link|Cartridges and canisters of air-purifying respirators}}
- {{annotated link|Gas mask}}
- {{annotated link|Powered air-purifying respirator}}
- {{annotated link|Respirator}}