Performance Studies on Respiratory Protective Devices in the Workplace – Part II: Towards a unified approach

he assigned protection factor (APF) is a fundamental parameter used when selecting adequate respiratory protective devices (RPD). Various methods have been used to arrive at current APFs, including workplace protection factor (WPF) studies. Many published papers report these results but as yet there is no common international protocol for conducting, analysing and reporting workplace performance studies. The protocols adopted vary according to the objectives of the study, and the protocol and objectives are not always clearly defined. The lack of a harmonised approach to workplace performance studies has partly been responsible for the huge differences in assigned protection factors that can be seen across the world. Part I of this paper discussed the issues surrounding the derivation of APFs and the need for a harmonised approach to future workplace studies. Part II discusses the key elements of workplace performance studies and makes recommendations for consideration with the aim of achieving a harmonised approach to WPF studies.