Gas masks

If a mask is available and used correctly, it will reduce the amount of dangerous particles entering the body. Respirators have been used in the workplace for many years, with employers using training programs to ensure proper mask selection and respirator fit.

Gas masks are also known as “air-purifying respirators” because they filter or clean chemical gases and particles from the air as you breathe. A gas mask as a set includes a facepiece or mask and a filter/cartridge (if the filter is inside a metal shell, it is called a canister). Straps secure the face covering to the head. The canister may have a filter to remove particles such as those from a biological weapon.