Respiratory protection is essential because exposure to airborne hazards can cause permanent damage to the lungs and airways. In many cases, this leads to serious health conditions, including chronic lung disease and various forms of cancer. These hazards are often invisible and may go unnoticed until significant harm has already occurred.

There are six key types of respiratory hazard:

• Dust – Created when solid materials are broken down during activities like sanding, cutting, grinding or brushing. Dust can be harmful when inhaled, over long or short repeated periods of exposure.
• Mist – Composed of tiny liquid droplets, mists are produced through atomising processes such as spraying, cleaning, or when coolants are used in cutting or grinding. They resemble steam and can easily be inhaled into the lungs.
• Fumes – Resulting from the intense heating of solid materials, fumes form when the material vaporises and then cools, producing fine particles. This is common in smelting, metal pouring, and many welding tasks.
• Gas – Gases behave like air and disperse in a similar way. They may be hazardous when inhaled, especially in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas. Vapours, often confused with fumes, are gaseous forms of materials that are usually solid or liquid at room temperature.
• Vapour – These are gases formed by the evaporation of materials, particularly when they are heated. Vapours are commonly produced in industrial processes such as degreasing.
• Oxygen deficiency or enrichment – Environments with less than 19% oxygen are considered oxygen deficient and can be extremely dangerous, requiring specialist breathing equipment. Conversely, excess oxygen in the air can greatly increase the risk of explosions and can also negatively affect health.

Proper respiratory protection is vital to prevent exposure to these harmful substances. Without it, workers are at serious risk of life-changing illness or injury.

Key points:

• Respiratory hazards can cause lasting damage to the lungs and lead to serious diseases.
• Dust, mist, fumes, gas, vapour, and oxygen imbalance are the six main types of hazard.
• Each type originates from different industrial or workplace processes.
• Some hazards are invisible, odorless and tasteless making protection even more critical.
• Respiratory protection should always match the specific hazard and environment.

If you need further support, please contact our Technical Support Team using the email: technical@jspsafety.com or contact us via our WhatsApp.