Cashman T M, Murray P M
Preventive Medicine Service, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI 96859-5000, USA.
Mil Med. 1995 Apr;160(4):168-71.
Respiratory protection is a complex field involving industrial hygiene, physics, physiology, toxicology, medicine, anthropology, engineering, law, and worksite administration. Although the use of respirators is widespread, they are the least effective and often the most costly method of protecting workers. Preferred methods of protection are engineering controls that eliminate exposure and substitution of the agent for one of lesser toxicity. However, in work situations where alternative methods are not available, a well-designed and well-monitored respiratory protection program can still provide a safe environment for the soldier and civilian worker. With the enactment and enforcement of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, worker protection has gained a much higher priority among employers and health officials. The field is dynamic and some of the medical screening procedures outlined in TB MED 502 (Respiratory Protection) are outdated. Industrial processes and state-of-the-art protective equipment change rapidly. Because certified occupational health physicians and nurses are not always available, health care workers need a fundamental understanding of respiratory protection.
呼吸防护是一个复杂的领域，涉及工业卫生、物理学、生理学、毒理学、医学、人类学、工程学、法律和工作场所管理。尽管呼吸器的使用很广泛，但它们是保护工人最无效且往往成本最高的方法。首选的防护方法是通过工程控制措施消除接触，并将有毒物质替换为毒性较小的物质。然而，在无法采用替代方法的工作环境中，一个精心设计和严格监控的呼吸防护计划仍可为士兵和文职工人提供一个安全的环境。随着《职业健康与安全法》的颁布和实施，工人保护在雇主和卫生官员中得到了更高的重视。该领域是动态变化的，TB MED 502（呼吸防护）中概述的一些医学筛查程序已经过时。工业生产过程和最先进的防护设备变化迅速。由于并非总能找到具备资质的职业健康医生和护士，医护人员需要对呼吸防护有基本的了解。
