As an aware employer, it is your duty to ensure the safety of your workers around high-risk job sites. Apart from taking measures to ensure uninterrupted movement around the premises, it is also necessary to equip your workers with safety gear that can save them from life-threatening accidents and keep you out of legal trouble.
Factories and manufacturing plants are often pervaded with contaminated air, constant inhalation of which may trigger chronic respiratory issues among workers. To avoid this situation, researchers have come up with revolutionary safety gear – powered air-purifying respirator – which filters out dust and pathogens to provide workers with clean, fresh air.
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How does it work?
Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) has a very simple construction, consisting of headgear, a battery-driven fan, air tube, and filters. The battery-driven fan pushes air into the tube, which reaches the headgear after passing through purifying filters. As a result, the user gets a fresh supply of air amidst the contaminated environment. The most appropriate filter can be chosen according to the contaminants that need to be removed. Some filters are designed to remove dust particles and then there are filters that can even remove pathogens and particles smaller than 5 microns.
Benefits
The equipment can be carried around freely without obstructing hand or body movement. The fan and the battery are mounted unobtrusively and secured by a belt around the waist, so you do not have to be always mindful of your equipment while you are engaged in some other task.
Applications
PAPR systems are used in a variety of settings, ranging from construction and mining sites to chemical manufacturing plants and everything in between. These systems can also be a saving grace for individuals involved in pest control and asbestos inspection or come across situations that pose respiratory hazards. Spray painting is another area wherein PAPR systems provide protection against contaminants and easily prevent respiratory discomforts.
How to choose the right PAPR for your workers?
All PAPR systems are not created equal. Most buyers think of it as one-size-fits-all systems and often make a wrong purchase. When you are out in the market – whether online or offline – to buy a Powered Air Purifying Respirator, doing a little research on your part is highly advisable. If you are pressed for time, you will at least want to be sure of your requirements so that your supplier can provide exactly what you’re after.
