Perhaps somebody hanging here has some practical experience with these matters?
In the US, where I'm from, it is not permissible in the workplace, as I recall, to put an employee in one of those half-mask respirators until they have been screened by a doctor. There apparently can be some problems in one's ability to breath in against the slight resistance, etc. Also, the user is not permitted to have facial hair in the sealing area of the mask as this can affect the seal. Finally, the user must be trained in the proper use, including cleaning and sanitation after use, as well as have a "fit test" performed. The fit test uses some sort of material that the user can smell or taste if it leaks through the mask; in our operation we used a material with the odor of bananas. Because of these issues, it was far preferable to deal with things by so-called "engineering controls," aka ventilation. Of course the ventilation must also be tested routinely to make sure that it is protecting the employee.
If the chemicals are liquid no mask of any type will offer any benefit.
I've worked in several industries (including lead battery manufacturing & Nuclear) and never had to see a doctor to wear any type of respiratory mask.
Q: Must employees see a doctor before they use a respirator?
A: The employer must provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. Not all workers must be examined by a doctor. A physician or other licensed health care professional must perform the medical evaluation using the medical questionnaire contained in Appendix C of 29 CFR 1910.134 or an initial medical examination that obtains the same information.
As an aside, once we got in one of the rooms in the building, they made everyone take off their masks so we be exposed to the gas and see what it's like. We all started to cough and wheeze as we ran out of the building holding our masks. I think they mainly did it to see us suffer and get a good laugh about it.
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