RESPIRATOR SELECTION GUIDELINES
HAZARD RESPIRATOR
Oxygen Deficiency
-Immediately dangerous to life or health* Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
-Not immediately dangerous to life or health SCBA; Any supplied-air respirator
Gas and Vapor Contaminates
-Immediately
dangerous to life or health*
Positive-pressure, SCBA;
Combination
positive-pressure supplied-air respirator
and
auxiliary self-contained air supply.
-Not
immediately dangerous to life or health Any supplied-air respirator;
Gas mask;
Chemical cartridge respirator.
Particulate
Contaminates
Any supplied-air respirator including abrasive
blasting respirator; Any air-purifying
respirator with particulate filter.
Gaseous and Particulate Contaminates
-Immediately dangerous to life
or health* Positive-pressure, SCBA;
Combination
positive-pressure, supplied-air respirator and
auxiliary self-contained air supply.
-Not
immediately dangerous to life or health Any supplied-air respirator;
Gas mask;
Chemical cartridge respirator.
Firefighting Any positive-pressure, SCBA.
* NOTE: Immediately dangerous to life or health is any condition that poses either an immediate threat to life or health, or an immediate threat of severe exposure to contaminates, such as radioactive materials, which is likely to have adverse delayed effects on health.