Selecting the right equipment – we can help

The “Clean Air - Take Care” campaign is driven jointly by the British Safety Industry Federation and the Health and Safety Executive. It highlights the need for selecting the right mask and filter when choosing respiratory protection and Frank Angear, product manager for Scott Health & Safety and an active BSIF member, explains how Scott's new web based selection tool SureLife can help you get that selection right.

Scott Health & Safety is a leading manufacturer of Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE). Scott helps users daily with information on the use and care of their RPE, and with getting the right equipment for the job. The “Clean Air - Take Care” campaign provides a simple leaflet to help you record the nature of workplace hazards and SureLife is one of the ways Scott can help you select the right masks and filters to adequately protect you based on the record you create.

SureLife is an internet based guidance tool that allows you to enter the respiratory hazards you encounter at work and receive an instant recommendation of the most appropriate types of protection. On the SureLife site you can enter or search for substances by name or partial name, chemical formula, or CAS number. The necessary details of the hazards can usually be found in the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). SureLife will then display the exposure limits set by the HSE and let you enter the concentration at your workplace, and within a few mouse clicks provide a clear recommendation of the correct types of respirator and filters. You can then download a report displaying photographs and part numbers of the equipment for clear identification. The report forms a permanent record, filed for future reference and demonstrating your selection process.

At each step the site has help sections just a click away, but it is so intuitive to use that they are unlikely to be needed. If you prefer to enquire through your supplier Scott's distributors are being registered to use SureLife and will provide the report for you, but you can also be trained to use SureLife yourself, and in just a few minutes will find this new tool simple and informative to use, and an invaluable source of guidance.

Remember that determining the best RPE for you is not only about the hazard. It must also fit you correctly and be suitable for your work. You should also be trained in how to use it and look after it. Scott can help you throughout, so please contact us if would like further assistance.