Choosing the Right Dust Mask

Dust is everywhere in a builder’s life, and it is the bane of every remodeler. Wood, gypsum, lime, and concrete are all contributors to the dusty job site. Add fiberglass, cellulose, and rockwool fibers, with a sprinkling of arsenic salts and lead, and you have a witches’ brew of noxious inhalants floating around the worker’s world. Choosing the right mask to protect you and your employees depends on the particular hazard you’re facing, how well the mask fits, and whether or not it’s comfortable enough to actually wear. This article will take a look at some common dust hazards, and the least expensive and least cumbersome respirators you can use. But first, here are a few definitions that will help clarify the numbers and acronyms in dust mask specifications. Reading