The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has advised people who work in the presence of harmful dusts not to wear a nuisance dust mask. This unlikely missive comes as the HSE is looking for the voluntary withdrawal of nuisance dust masks from sale. It is urging the use of approved CE-marked, disposable respirators instead.
The HSE warns that dust masks – also referred to as comfort or hygiene masks – although widely used, are not protective devices. They perform poorly and do not meet basic health and safety requirements.

The Executive says that this type of mask does not protect against fine dusts, welding fumes, asbestos, fine sand, paint spray, gases, vapours, hard and softwood dust, aerosols and fumes from rosin-based solder flux. They should not be used either for protection against substances that cause occupational asthma but at present have no recognised occupational exposure limit.

The HSE advises the use of CE-marked disposable respirators that are also made to EN 149 and class FFP1 (low efficiency), FFP2 (medium efficiency) or FFP3 (high efficiency).

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor