while I am still able to work, can anyone tell me what is the best mask to wear, you see I am painter by trade.

I need a mask that will keep not only dust out but also any air borne infections

[stan5]

Hello Redmod- in the concrete drilling industry at Holemasters Scotland Ltd we use-

EN149:2001+A1:2009

FFP3 NR

the mask is called-UC-P3V-respiratory protection against "fine dust" ( get them from any PPE supplier ) all our drillers use them now-they are given a box of 10 at the start of the week-very good reports back-but to late for me after 30 years in the diamond drilling game, we never had PPE when I was a driller and now have COPD & type 2 Diabetes-you must stay at work as long as you can,I am 63 and plan ( if healthy ) to work till I am 67.

[Hidden in reply to stan5]

Hello Stan5, thanks for this mate , have changed to FFP3 for a little time now, i was thinking that this might be over the top, but thinking it through i quess it's better to fly in a jumbo than a Tiger moth !

What i was looking for is a mask that would stop air borne infections as well as fine dust, because sometimes as you know you have to get close to people when your working, and others don't always tell you that they have a chest infection.

Like you i have Diabetes type 2 & copd but i am only 48 so heres to looking forward.

Keep safe at work mate.

redmod

[Hidden]

I was checking out respo masks today, they have masks for everything:

respro.com/

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Zoee i shall take a peek

Redmod

[elian]

It's good that you are willing to take the necessary precautions in order to avoid aggravating your condition redmod

I hope you manage to find a suitably comfortable mask and can continue to do your job without further problems.

[Hidden in reply to elian]

Hi Elian, i had always taken precautions but i quess not enough at the right time, i mean i gave up smoking in 1995 just to be told in January 2012 that i now have a time bomb,still it's great to know i am not unique and that support is only an email away.

Redmod

[Hidden]

Hi

Have you had a look on the Health & Safety Executives website - hse.gov.uk/

They have all sorts of guidance for different industries and may even have guidance on the correct type of mask. Have a look. If you get no joy give us a call on the Helpline - 03000 030 555 - and we'll see what we can find out for you.

Mark

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Mark, my Boss had a chat with me yesterday (04/10), He is thinking of supply me with a full head respirator with a hose to a back pack, is this over the top?, i said that i would ask my GP just to make sure that this does not cause a problem with my inhaler i use salbutamol sulphate.

cheers

redmod

[Hidden]

hi there are three types of mask full face/half face/throw away. for best results against dust the filter should be P3, for fumes you need the added protection of a charcoal filter, only available for full or half face mask.