Peculiarities of selecting respiratory protective equipment while working with chemical substances

Abstract

A high degree of industrialization and urbanization characterizes the modern working environment. As a result, there is constant contact with various man-made factors (dust, smoke, fog or gas, steam), the concentration of which in the air is higher than the maximum permissible concentrations. The purpose of the paper is to develop a procedure for assessing risks when working with chemicals, which allows substantiating the selection of adequate means of respiratory protective equipment to protect workers when performing production tasks. Methods. To substantiate the selection of the type of respiratory protective equipment when working with chemical substances, a five-step approach to risk assessment is used. The approach is based on classification of chemical substances in terms of “R-phrase”. This means risk factors that arise while working with hazardous substances described in Annex III of the EEC Directive 67/548/EEC. Together with the recommendations of the Approval of the Minimum Requirements for Safety and Health Protection When Employees Use Personal Protective Equipment at the Workplace (NPAOP 0.00-7.17-18), it allows to assess the occupational risk of danger from chemical substances taking into account their toxicity and substantiate the type of respiratory protective equipment. Findings. An approach was developed to substantiate the selection of the type of respiratory protective equipment based on the hazard risk assessment. The correlation between the hazard group according to the “phrases” of a chemical substance and severity of the worker’s health loss was defined. An algorithm for selecting respiratory protective equipment while working with chemical substances was proposed. An example of assessing the impact of sulphur dioxide during the work of miners with a recommendation of the type of respiratory protective equipment was considered. Originality. A correlation between the protection class of the respiratory protective equipment and toxicity of the chemical substance according to the R-phrase was determined. Practical value. An algorithm for selecting respiratory protective equipment to protect workers from chemical substances was proposed. The algorithm is based on five steps making it possible to develop an appropriate form of substantiation for the appropriate type and class of respiratory protective equipment.