Respiratory Protection in Agriculture

If you work in any one of these situations and do not wear some form of respiratory protection, then you are placing yourself at risk for serious lung diseases or even death.

You may encounter a range of health problems from minor, temporary discomfort caused by allergic reactions to fatal asphyxiation depending upon the work environment and the hazards presented.

In each of these cases, however, proper respiratory equipment can protect you. Using such equipment is not the only means of protection in all of these cases, but it is a practical solution to safeguard and even improve your health.

Choosing the Proper Equipment

• Make a list of operations and work sites where there is any kind of contamination.

• List any type of job where a lack of oxygen is a problem.

• List the specific contaminants that correspond to the work site and its jobs.

• List how harmful the contaminants are - both potentially and/or actually.

• List the form of the contaminant material: dust, mist, spray, gas, vapor, fume or some combination of these.

• Give the concentrations of each contaminant.

• READ ALL LABELS.

There are several types of protective equipment available for all tasks. They are broken down into two categories:

1. Air Purifying. This type removes contaminants from the air. It is only to be used where there is a sufficient oxygen supply. This category includes: mechanical filter, chemical cartridge and canister gas mask respirators.

2. Oxygen Providing. This type provides oxygen for the user in oxygen-deficient atmospheres. This category includes: supplied-air respirators and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).

Air Purifying Respiratory Protection

Dust masks provide protection against airborne dust particles (chemical, mineral, field or barn, chaff, pollen) and non-toxic paint spray dusts. Sufficient levels of oxygen must be present in the air to be filtered.

Chemical Cartridge Respirators

The user must anticipate the type of hazard to be protected against and purchase the correct cartridges. Most cartridges are designed to provide protection for a specific type of chemical hazard such as pesticides, ammonia, anhydrous ammonia, etc. Sufficient levels of oxygen must be present in the air to be filtered.

Gas Masks

Gas masks provide protection against pesticides, and often toxic airborne materials. The greater capacity of gas mask cartridges (canisters) allows longer working times in high levels of contaminants than typical respirators.

Supplied-Air Respiratory Protection

Supplied-air respirators can be used in confined spaces where there is likely to be an inadequate level of oxygen.

SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS (SCBA) is a type of respirator that has full face coverage and an oxygen supply contained in a compressed air tank carried on the users back. It can be used in oxygen deficient areas and in hazardous atmospheres.

A self-contained breathing apparatus can be used where ever the user must work, such as in silos, manure pits, grain storage and fumigation of structures.

SILAGE	MANURE PITS	CONFINED POULTRY HOUSING	CONFINED HOG HOUSING	PESTICIDES
CO2 nitrogen oxides mold spores	ammonia methane CO2 hydrogen sulfide	DUSTS: feathers and feather particles dried skin material dried fecal material dried feed products GASES: ammonia CO2	DUSTS: hair and skin particles dried feed products dried fecal particles GASES: ammonia CO2 hydrogen sulfide methane	TOXIC: fumes gases mists dusts

If you are not sure which type of protective equipment is best for the work you do, then ask the professionals who sell the various products.

For information concerning the selection and use of respiratory equipment, contact local agricultural stores, safety supply stores, pesticide sales outlets, or the Virginia Cooperative Extension.

• Individuals should be completely familiar with equipment use. replacement. care. cleaning and storage. Individuals should be properly trained (SCBA requires special training for use).
• Individuals should test equipment before every use. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for properly testing equipment. If you are using a respirator that has cartridges, you can use one of two methods of testing:
  1) Positive Fit Check. Exhale while you cover the exhalation valve with the palm of your hand -- if you feel air against the skin of your face, there is a leak in the seal.

  2) Negative Fit Check. Cover the cartridge(s) with your hands and inhale -- if the mask is drawn tightly to your face, there is no leakage.

• Make sure the equipment properly fits you. Leakage defeats the effectiveness of even the best respirator for the situation. Testing the equipment will assure a proper fit.
• Individuals should regularly clean and repair equipment.
• Individuals should regularly change filter cartridges and pre-filters.

If you are using filter cartridges and you notice a change in smell or taste or you begin coughing, then the hazardous material may be getting through the filter and it should be changed. You should consider setting a regular changing schedule if the contaminant cannot be noticed by the five senses.

If you are using a pre-filter for more than five or six hours a day, then you should change the filter daily. It is important to change filter cartridges before breathing becomes difficult.

• Individuals should store protective equipment in a clean, dry place AWAY from work and chemical storage areas. Self-sealing plastic bags are ideal for storing clean respirators.
• Individuals must be fully capable of wearing protective equipment. If you are not sure or do not know how a condition you may have could affect proper use of equipment, check with your physician. Some conditions which could cause problems are: asthma, allergies, emphysema, high blood pressure, heart disorder, claustrophobia or minor facial abnormalities.
• Buy only certified respirators. Look for labels approved by NIOSH or MSA that show an approval number.
• If it is practical, assign respirators to individuals.

Caution: Often, it is necessary to use other protective equipment and clothing when using respiratory protective equipment, such as special gloves, eye protection, and long sleeve shirts.