Use this quick selection guide to find the recommended respiratory protection for your hazard and face shape.

Please note:

if you have identified contaminated air as a hazard, you should put control measures in place to manage exposure. The hierarchy of controls is a system that will guide you to select appropriate controls. The use of respiratory protection is one method of control which can be used in conjunction with other controls.

Did you know?

Australia has the second-highest mesothelioma death rate in the world, trailing only that of the United Kingdom. Mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure, is leaving its mark on the nation with more than 10,000 people succumbing to the disease since the early 1980s. According to cancer experts, an additional 25,000 people are expected to die from it over the next four decades.

• 606 deaths from mesothelioma in Australia in 2011
• Nearly 700 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in Australia in 2011
• 90 cases of mesothelioma in New Zealand in 2010

No Matter What You Do, Safety Starts With You!

It’s recommended that the removal of asbestos materials is performed by a licensed asbestos removalist. However, when renovating or performing maintenance around the home you may come across asbestos containing materials so it’s particularly important you
use the correct Personal Protective Equipment at all times.

Reach out to a Safety Specialist if you’re unsure of any aspect of PPE required to safeguard you against potential asbestos hazards.

There is a simple and cost-effective solution that protects workers from airborne hazards.

Are you protected?

Respirators are a simple and effective solution that can help to protect against what can be a potentially deadly issue when it comes to occupational health and safety.

Our natural protections against respiratory illnesses include a lung-clearing mechanism using small hairs called cilia that line our respiratory tract, nasal hairs acting as a coarse filter, and the cough reflex - all of which help expel unwanted airborne microbes and particles.

However, these protections may not work when particulates in the air are in such concentrations, or are so toxic, that our natural defences are not dequate enough to protect our respiratory system.

An array of exposures can cause respiratory health problems and irritate pre-existing conditions.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics1, about 14 per cent of all deaths in Australia are caused by lung diseases such as mesothelioma, asthma, lung cancer, asbestosis and pneumonia. 

Some of these diseases are caused by personal choices including smoking, while others, such as asthma, can be a combination of hereditary and environmental conditions.

One of the biggest contributors to reduced respiratory protection is poor fit.

Conducting a fit test to ensure that a respirator with a tight fitting facepiece provides an adequate seal to the wearer’s face is considered a crucial part of a Respiratory Protection Program.

Reflecting this, a respiratory fit test is mandated for compliance to AS/NZS 1715:2009 (the standard for users of respiratory protection).

3M™ Qualitative Fit Test Kits are designed for fit testing disposable and half face respirators fitted with particulate or combination gas/vapour and particulate filters.

Protect Your Hands and Fingers. As Some Tools Can’t Be Replaced

Safety is in your hands. Taking care of your tools every day ensures that your hands and fingers remain unscathed. The 10 Ways To Protect Your Hands post offers great tips to protecting your hands and fingers.

3M Virtual Reality Simulation Adds New Dimension to Safety Training

Wind turbine technicians flocked to GWO training in 2017

DROPS Global Training

DROPS Global offer a range of Dropped Object Prevention Awareness and Training programmes, each derived from industry lessons learned and associated best practice and applicable across the full supply chain.

35 Injuries per day

36 Deaths per year

Safe Work Australia has the latest report...