Protect Those Lungs! - Respiratory Protection Equipment

Weekly Newspaper Article for The News-Democrat, Carrollton, KY

The harvest season will reach Carroll County before we know it, and there are some key safety considerations to keep in mind as we are working out in the fields.

Use respiratory protection to safeguard your lungs against dusts as you harvest crops, clean out grain bins, open silos, strip tobacco, and participate in other seasonal farming activities. 

A disposable toxic dust respirator will filter out fine dust particles that can deeply penetrate the lungs.  It is needed for protection from potentially harmful dusts like grain dust and mold from grain, hay or silage.  Agricultural workers should use a toxic dust respirator anytime they will be exposed to dusty operations or activities. 

Using an approved toxic dust respirator can prevent the respiratory symptoms commonly associated with working in confinement facilities as well as the onset of the flu-like illness that occurs four to six hours after exposure to big amounts of moldy materials.

N95 Respirator (University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service)

An N95 is the most common respirator for agricultural uses.  The N indicates that it is intended for oil-free dust and that the filter is 95 percent efficient in removing irrespirable or fine dust that can penetrate deep into the lungs.  An N100 type that is 99.9 percent efficient also is available.