What to consider when choosing airline breathing apparatus

1. What to consider when choosing airline breathing apparatus There are many industries where the use of airline breathing apparatus is essential to protect thehealth and safety of workers. For those whose job entailsworking inhazardous environments with exposure to harmful materials, this kind of equipment can save lives. With this in mind, it is important that the correct type of airline breathing apparatus is chosen. After this has been decided, other important procedures such as face fit testing must also take place before workers can actually start to use the selected breathing respiratory protective equipment. Airline breathing apparatus is ideal for environment where ambient oxygen cannot be assured, and offers benefits such as long duration use combined with a high level of respiratory protection. With this kind of equipment, air supply is typically fed by a medium pressure hose. As mentioned before, the use of airline breathing apparatus is widespread in many industries, and has numerous applications. This particular equipment boasts the advantages of being very lightweight, lacking in bulk and provides a potentially unlimited amount of air to the wearer. When it comes to specifyingairline breathing apparatus for the purpose of protecting the health and safety of workers, there are a number of factors toconsidercarefully.First of all, it is necessary that a complete risk assessment of the work environment in question be carried out. This is to ensure that the equipment chosen meets the demands that the environment places on the operative. One area to consider is thatof the primary air source, as there are several differentoptions when it comes to choosing appropriatebreathing apparatus. These include either a factory airline, a compressor or compressed air cylinders. When looking at either of the first two options, it must be evaluated whether the air supply in the work environment is clean or not. Where Carbon Monoxide or Carbon Dioxide are possibility present in the air, an air purifier will need to be employed. Consideration also needs to be given to how the wearer will be warned if there is a drop in supply from the medium pressure hose. There are a couple of options to choose from. These are inlinewhistles, which can give an audible warning, or both audible and visualwarning signs can be given with the use of an automatic distresssignal unit.

2. The choice made will depend on what is most appropriate for the user in his or her line of work, and how these distress signals can be most efficiently relayed to the wearer of the airline breathing apparatus. It is important to consider whether reserve air supplies will be required to provide an alternative source of air to the wearer of the apparatus. Whereas compressed air cylinders are often used as standalone systems, they may also serve as an efficient back up in case of problems with the main air supply of the wearer. In choosing airline breathing apparatus for use by a worker in a particular environment, it is crucial to make sure that the equipment is suitably adapted to the job in hand. For example, if the user is working in a confined space, the use of a large back up compressed air cylinder in addition to the airline breathing apparatus may be too bulky and therefore insufficiently adapted to the scenario. All of these are factors to take into account when selecting airline breathing apparatus for workers in a specific environment. As the airline breathing apparatus means that the user’s safety depends on outside influences, it is important that environmental risks are taken into consideration when choosing the equipment that offers the highest level of protection for the job in hand. About Us: Breathe Safety are a UK-basedteam of experts dedicated to the provision of services relating to confined space training and the use of respiratory equipment or breathing apparatus. Breathe Safety provide total solutions in these areas including training programs, face fit testing, consultancy and rescue services, and the hire, sale and servicing of equipment. Since their inception, the Breathe Safety name has been synonymous with sustaining life in hazardous environments and providing a quality service to clients in a variety of industries, including oil and gas, turnaround and shutdown, petrochemical, mining and tunnelling, pharmaceutical, energy and marine industries. To find out more, please visit: http://www.breathesafety.com/