By now, it should come to no surprise that welding fumes are harmful to the human body. Welding fumes are made up of a complex mixture of tiny particulates consisting of metallic oxides, silicates and fluorides. In 2018, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) verified that “welding fumes are carcinogenic to humans” which was researched and classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) In 2017.
In short, it is absolutely vital that you, and all of those in the welding community, take measures to substantially limit risk of exposure. Using a PAPR can protect your lungs, allowing you to extend your career while protecting your future retirement years.
PAPR stands for “Powered Air Purifying Respirator.” Looking at the above photos you might think they look similar to the equipment medical professionals wear while treating outbreaks, and you would be correct. These are indeed what doctors and nurses wear to treat infectious disease situations. A PAPR pulls the highly contaminated surrounding air into an intake valve which a blower then forces air through filter cartridges, cleansing the air, and back into the designated breathing zone of the individual wearing it.
PAPR systems are evaluated and rated for varying levels of protection which indicates the conditions that rating is most suitable to be used in. You can review the “Assigned Protection Factors for the Revised Respiratory Protection Standard” published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for all the details. Whether you are working in a closed space or open space with ventilation, looking into a PAPR is a step into taking your health seriously.
According to a recent article written by the CDC, Considerations for Optimizing the Supply of Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), “PAPRs reduce the aerosol concentration inhaled by the wearer to at least 1/25th of that in the air, compared to a 1/10th reduction for FFRs and elastomeric half facepiece air-purifying respirators.” This means that PAPRs are much more effective than FFRs. If you’re wonder what an FFR is, it stands for Filtering Facepiece Respirator. These respirators are disposable masks that cover your nose and mouth that filter out particles such as dust and fumes, but do not protect you from gases and vapors. Commonly bought for jobs such as painting at big box stores.
Reusable masks that have replaceable cartridges tell a similar story as FFRs when compared to PAPRs with the exception of having the ability to protect against vapors and gases if equipped properly. The largest drawback for welders when it comes to the elastic respirators are that they require a fit test to the welders face, the ability to fit under your helmet, and comfortability. Many welders find elastic reusable masks to be a bit uncomfortable which causes them to adjust the fit throughout the day, thus slowing down production and opening the welder up to risks such as being “flashed.”
There are also two added bonus features that you will want to consider when deciding between a PAPR and other options. Your beard and staying cool. If your company issues you a standard reusable masks with cartridges, often times the business will also require the welder to be clean shaven. Being clean shaven helps with proper fit and filtering for protection. However, with an enclosed PAPR you can keep your beard and avoid the need for a fitting completely. Now that your skin is feeling more comfortable you can enjoy the added benefit of cooling. The blower in a PAPR system not only cleans the surrounding air but also provides airflow into the hood keeping the welder cool.
The optrel x3000x has all the features you need in a PAPR to x-tend your possibilities:
The optrel e3000X PAPR system protects you reliably from particles like smoke, aerosols or dust. Furthermore, the mountain breeze odor filter keeps you free from awkward smells and insanitary ozone. In environments with hazardous or toxic gases the new A1B1E1 gas filter saves you from organic, inorganic and acid gases. The e3000X adapts to your requirements.
As soon as the filter in the respective air flow level is saturated, you receive an audible and visual alarm, and the e3000X‘s intelligent alarm function switches fully automatically to the next lowest air flow stag – without you having to interrupt the work process.
We have managed to double the efficiency of the e3000X by combining a performance-optimized design with the latest battery cell technology. With up to 18 hours of battery life and 240 litres of air per minute available at the touch of a button, the e3000X is the perfect choice for the most powerful ventilated breathing protection system available on the market.
The e3000X shows you the battery charge level at the touch of a button and calibrates the air flow automatically. So you can get through the day safely.
If you find yourself wanting to put our technology to the test, you can find an optrel dealer or visit our product pages for the e3000X PAPR and Swiss Air PAPR. You can also use our Product Customizer to build your own PAPR system, by choosing an air filter, compatible helmet, and accessories.
