Breathing Apparatus

This course should be undertaken by people who have a requirement to use breathing apparatus in the workplace.

Participants will develop the necessary skills and knowledge for using breathing apparatus. The course will address safe use of breathing apparatus and provide participants with a sound understanding of the equipment and their capabilities.

The course is structured to provide both theory and practical exercises using a number of training scenarios.

The TasFire Training Code of Practice can be found on our website at www.tasfiretraining.com.au/code_of_practice.html.

The course is designed to give participants the confidence to use breathing apparatus safely in the workplace. Participants must comply with the requirements of AS/NZS1715 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective devices, in respect to the need to be clean shaven. Following is an extract from the standard about facial seals.

The course duration is approximately 6 hours and the fee is $350 (GST inclusive) per participant. Minimum course numbers do apply.

This course may be conducted at one of our Training Centres located in Burnie, Launceston or Hobart or in your workplace where appropriate facilities are provided.

Training courses can be tailored for your organisation. Please contact our regional Senior Consultants for more information and pricing.

Beard growth, some hairstyles and other facial features prevent an adequate seal between the wearer’s face and the fitting surfaces of a facepiece or mouthpiece. Facial hair may also interfere with inhalation and exhalation valve operation. Male wearers in particular should be made aware of the general rules in Paragraphs B2 to B6.

Bearded persons cannot expect to achieve adequate respiratory protection when wearing a full facepiece respirator or a half facepiece respirator. Accordingly, no one who requires respiratory protection should attempt to wear either a full facepiece or half facepiece respirator over a beard.

Moustaches may spoil the fit of a half facepiece respirator and may interfere with the peripheral seal of a full facepiece respirator. Moustaches should not protrude beyond projected lines, drawn vertically from the corner of the mouth (Minimum TFS requirement as it may interfere with the seal of the internal face mask).

When a full facepiece is being worn, sideburns should not extend below a line drawn through the top of the tragion (the notch in the cartilage of the ear just above and immediately in front of the earhole) and the canthus (corner) of the eye. This line is illustrated in Figure 6.

Stubble growth, depending on its length and stiffness, interferes to some degree with proper sealing of a facepiece and it is necessary that male wearers of respirators shave daily (This means that, other than moustaches and sideburns that comply, you must be clean shaven on the face and neck). When the hair is worn long, particular care should be taken to ensure that none is trapped beneath the fitting surface.

Standards Australia (2009). Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective devices (AS/NZS1715) Retrieved from Australian Standards Online [28 July 2014]