Regardless of whether you have to solve a task at home or professionally, the right equipment makes the work safer.

Fortunately, you don't have to worry about whether it pays to insure yourself against damage; in the working environment legislation, there are clear rules for when, how and for how long you must protect yourself in your work.

Some work requires extra protection. It can be in the form of work gloves , hearing protection or respiratory protection . We will cover the latter in more detail here - and more specifically: How long you may use a respirator at a time, which ones you should use, etc.

Because when you've ended up here, it's probably because you know that things can go the other way if you use the respirator for too long. Because as much as it protects against dangerous particles etc., it can be just as harmful if it is used for too long: It puts a strain on your body - and especially your heart.

Choose the right respirator for your work

Regardless of whether you follow the law or your common sense, we are happy that you take your reservations when you have to start work that may expose your airways to strain.

Because although it can be an annoyance to remember the mask, even for short periods, it is therefore important to use this extra security.

There are three main groups within respiratory protection, and there are different restrictions on them:

1. Filtered respirators
2. Respirator with turbo filter
3. Air-supplied respirator

It is important that you choose the right respirator for your purpose, as they protect against different risks. Therefore, you cannot simply choose the type that you may use for the longest time at a time – or which genre at least during work – if it is not suitable for the job.

Here you get an overview of when you must use the different types of respiratory protection and their time limit.

For that long, you must use filtering respirators and dust masks

Filtering respirator are easy to use and do not hinder movement. So, if work permits, this type is preferred by the vast majority. They are particularly suitable for short work assignments, possibly with many changing locations.

Among other things, it is under this category that you will find the classic ones dust masks .

However, there are some things you should be aware of:

• You are not protected against all substances, so if you have to work with particularly toxic gases – or if there is a risk of oxygen deficiency – then you must get hold of an air-supplied respirator.
• There is a limited durability of this type of respirator.
• Specially filtered respirators strain breathing, therefore there is the greatest limitation in the number of hours with this type.
  

How long must you use filtered respirators: 3 hours a day.

For that long you must use a respirator with a turbo filter

Respirator with turbo filter must only be used in those situations where you would normally use a filtered respirator. The advantage is that it is healthier for the body.

Respirators with a turbo filter draw air through a filter and blow it into the mask, so you do not experience breathing resistance, as you do with ordinary filtered respirators. For this reason, you can use this type for more hours a day than the filtered version.

Depending on which filter you put in, this type of mask protects you against:

• Particulate filter: This optimally protects against harmful and toxic dust and aerosols. However, pay attention to the information on the package: Certain types only protect against dust to a limited extent.
• Gas filter: There are several different gas filters which protect against different gases and vapours. Therefore, read on the package which filter you must use in your work. Never use a gas filter that is not suitable for the conditions in which you are working.
  

How long must a turbo respirator be used: 6 hours a day.

For that long, you must use an air-supplied respirator

You must use air-supplied respirator when you do not know which gases and particles you may be exposed to, or if a lack of oxygen may occur.

According to the legislation, you must also use air-supplied respirators if you have to work with asbestos or other material with a high MAL code.

How many hours you may use the air-supplied respirator depends on your age and the work you do:

How long must you generally use an air-supplied respirator: 6 hours a day.
How long must an air-supplied respirator be used if it is a matter of demolition work with asbestos: 4 hours a day.
How long must you use an air-supplied respirator if you are under 18 years of age: 3 hours a day.

Checklist for use of respiratory protection

Since respirators are both good protection and a strain on the body, it is important that you use them correctly and follow the rules on the time limit. That is why we have created a checklist for when you need to use a respirator:

1. Use a respirator only if it is a last resort. According to occupational health and safety legislation, air pollutants must be removed as cleanly as possible - only if this is not possible, masks must be used as a last resort.
2. Comply with the time limit of 3 or 6 hours. Also take plenty of breaks every now and then; it is not healthy to take all hours in a row. Instead, make sure that there is other work you can do during the breaks, so that the use of the mask is distributed throughout the day.
3. Use the right protection. You are not protected if your respirator is not suitable for the environment in which you work.

If you want to read even more about the use of respirators, we recommend reading The handbook - Working environment in construction .