What’s wrong with this picture?

• Hard hat…check
• Eye protection…check
• Safety gloves…check
• Protective footwear…check
• Respiratory protection: . . . uh oh . . .

Although he has almost everything he needs to operate that jackhammer safely, this worker is missing one important piece of PPE: respiratory protection to keep him from breathing in the dust he’s kicking up.

Bottom Line: Workers who use jackhammers, saws, grinders, and other tools that generate dust (or work at construction sites, oil rigs and other workplaces that contain high levels of dust in the air) need respiratory protection.