Precautions & Misunderstandings When Using Gas Masks

To understand the precautions and misunderstandings when using gas masks is significant to safe operation, which is conducive to maximizing personal safety and improving work efficiency.

Precautions When Using Gas Masks

1. If you smell a faint smell of poisonous gas while wearing a gas mask, you should leave the toxic area immediately.

2. In toxic areas, where oxygen accounts for less than 18% of the total volume and toxic gases account for more than 2% of the total volume, all types of canisters cannot provide protection.

3. After each use of the gas mask, the cap on the upper part of the canister should be screwed on, and the rubber plug should be inserted before storage to prevent internal moisture.

Misunderstandings in Using Gas Masks

Error 1: The same gas mask can be used in any environment.

Correct Tips: Different gas masks have different protective effects, such as ammonia gas masks, carbon monoxide gas masks, etc. When purchasing gas masks, you should choose the corresponding gas mask according to the actual working environment.

Error 2: Some people think that gas masks can be worn at work or not.

Correct Tips: Gas masks can effectively eliminate or reduce the hazards of occupational diseases, effectively protect the health of workers and reduce the occurrence of occupational diseases.

Error 3: If there is no peculiar smell in the working environment, we don’t need to wear a gas mask.

Correct Tips: There are many colorless, odorless, and tasteless harmful substances in nature. Even if there is an odor, the human body’s sensory organs still have limitations and individual differences in how they perceive the outside world. Therefore, it does not mean that there is no smell in the working environment and there is no need to wear a gas mask.

Error 4: Filtering respirators will provide effective protection in any environment.

Correct Tips: Filtering gas masks cannot be used in any environment. They have certain limitations. Gas masks are only suitable for use in non-airtight environments where the air oxygen content is ≥19.5% (V/V) and the temperature is -30°C to 45°C.

In summary, understanding proper use procedures and common errors helps ensure maximum safety when working with gas masks. Strict adherence to guidelines is key.