Definition - What does dust and mist respirators mean?
A dust and mist respirator is a mask that lowers the amount of particulates that the wearer might inhale in a hazardous environment by filtering the air through the material of which the mask is made. It is a negative pressure respirator so the wearer is not supplied with oxygen while wearing it. Oxygen is supplied to the wearer through normal inhalation of breath where the mask allows the oxygen through and blocks the particulates.
SureHire explains dust and mist respirators
In some workplace environments, airborne contaminants threaten the lives of workers who are exposed to them on a daily basis. The dust and mist respirator protects the worker from inhaling dangerous levels of these particulates, such as wood dust, fumes and airborne infections. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health regulates the standards and procedures to be followed in the workplace where workers are exposed to such conditions. The dust and mist respirator is given a rating based on these standards. Specifically, a respirator is rated as either N, R or P which means not oil-resistant (N), oil resistant (R), or very oil-resistant (P). The mask is also given a filtering efficiency rating of either 95, 99 or 100%.
According to changes brought about by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a dust and mist respirator is now referred to as a filtering facepiece.
