I've had to wear respiratory equipment many times since then, and I've learned that proper use of the equipment is vital. In this article, I want to talk about the importance of training and overcoming any employee resistance to respiratory protection. After all, the equipment performs critical functions. Air-supplied respirators provide clean air from an outside source or from an air tank. There are always two cylinders in place, but one is empty and you need to put the spare cylinder in service.
Training is the only way to teach employees about the importance of respiratory protection.
You then close the valve on the empty cylinder and, using a wrench, disconnect a metal flex hose. The flex hose is then connected to the spare bottle and the valve is opened. Using a spray bottle of ammonia, you check the fitting for leaks. If no leaks are found you remove the respiratory equipment, clean it, and, if needed, replace the air cylinder. You don't use respiratory equipment and don't ask a co-worker to stand by.