Workplace protection factors of HSE approved negative pressure full-facepiece dust respirators during asbestos stripping: preliminary findings.

This research was designed to evaluate the workplace protection factors of Health and Safety Executive Approved, negative pressure full-facepiece dust respirators, during asbestos stripping. A standard method to measure the concentration of asbestos fibres inside full-facepiece respirators has been developed and the workplace protection factors have been calculated from the data obtained. The respirators in this study are approved for use by the Health and Safety Executive in concentrations of up 900 times the Control Limit [HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE, Guidance Note EH 41 (1985)] but the preliminary test results suggest that this level is inappropriately high for this type of respiratory protective equipment.