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Cfourexplore
Location: North Carolina Gender: Male Total Likes: 583 likes
Never a dull moment in Midworld.
| | | Re: Breathing Equipment < Reply # 3 on 3/18/2019 10:07 PM > | Reply with Quote
| | | I've explored without one, but like Mr. Bitsy says, I mainly started wearing a cheap dust mask (the thicker, slightly less cheap but one step above what they sell at Walmart version) to avoid the miasma of stink...it's almost like wearing a carpet to stop a .50 caliber round, but it did offer some protection and with it I tended to be less headachey after a moldy explore. A couple weeks ago I got a $40 3M respirator (rated p100), mostly to avoid inhaling mold, dust, ect., that might make me immediately sick. If it's a rather open area, I'll leave it off though. I'm 41 and have smoked for 20 years, so the idea of dying from asbestosis in another 40-60 years doesn't cross my eyes too bad, but in general I'd recommend wearing one, even a cheaper one, than doing nothing at all. Probably won't work in every situation, but having one might add points towards looking more innocuous; you're clearly just a safety conscious explorer (hobbyist) rather than some idiot vandal...
| "When you've truly done something right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all." |
| blackhawk This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.
Location: Mission Control Total Likes: 3996 likes
UER newbie
| | | | Re: Breathing Equipment < Reply # 6 on 3/19/2019 12:42 AM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Posted by ninjaturdius 100% Yes. Buy a good respirator with replaceable filters and you will never regret it. Better to have it than go without it. It's not worth the shitty feeling you get after being exposed to nasties, or wheezing and coughing from dust/any kind of fine particulates. I used to grind metal without a respirator in my garage when I was younger and stupid, It got me nothing but a weekend of coughing up black gunk and wheezy feeling. Now I use mine all the time, for the sake of well being and comfort. Some filters even kill the gross smell. Personally, I like to see it as a required tool you need to access some areas.
| This has discussed at length in other threads. However wearing a good, custom fitted* respirator is not fun, comfortable and sometimes not safe because they limit you downward vision. Your most dangerous threats are immediate not long term. You get one shot to spot hellholes. Try shooting with respiratory using the viewfinder You use a considerable about of energy to overcome to filter resistance in a fine particulate filter(s). A paper mask offers some protection from biohazards like hantavirus but that's as far as I go and even then... don't stir up dust!!! Without special training you aren't qualified or ready to enter highly contaminated areas... and also may not know all of what you are dealing with. Some chemicals are contact hazards. The one thing you should protect at all times are your eyes... *without an airtight fit it is jewelry. Many different face shapes and sizes; other than paper masks, one size doesn't fit all!
[last edit 3/19/2019 12:45 AM by blackhawk - edited 1 times]
| Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in. |
| ninjaturdius
Location: Bedford, TX Gender: Male Total Likes: 22 likes
I'll meet you at the Lab, or somewhere nearby...
| | | Re: Breathing Equipment < Reply # 8 on 3/19/2019 4:59 AM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Posted by blackhawk This has discussed at length in other threads. However wearing a good, custom fitted* respirator is not fun, comfortable and sometimes not safe because they limit you downward vision. ...
| They do come with some downsides like you mentioned, definitely not comfortable. I didn't quite mean that I wear it ALL the time, more like I find myself needing it in more and more places I visit. The biggest disadvantage for me is like you said the increase in breathing difficulty. I had to climb into a hole in the ceiling while wearing it once to avoid fiberglass floaties. It left me much more winded after an obstacle like that than I should have been, but I was glad to have been getting clean breaths of air. Christ, I haven't come across any serious chemical hazards yet. Hopefully don't, but if my eyes ever start burning I will bolt my ass out for sure! My respirator has a real good silicone seal that fits me well. I actually got it because I didn't like the fit with paper masks, it comes down to preference I suppose. I find a whole lot of value in mine since I use it outside exploring a lot with various projects.
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| Cfourexplore
Location: North Carolina Gender: Male Total Likes: 583 likes
Never a dull moment in Midworld.
| | | Re: Breathing Equipment < Reply # 10 on 3/20/2019 12:11 PM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Posted by Cfourexplore I've explored without one, but like Mr. Bitsy says, I mainly started wearing a cheap dust mask (the thicker, slightly less cheap but one step above what they sell at Walmart version) to avoid the miasma of stink...it's almost like wearing a carpet to stop a .50 caliber round, but it did offer some protection and with it I tended to be less headachey after a moldy explore. A couple weeks ago I got a $40 3M respirator (rated p100), mostly to avoid inhaling mold, dust, ect., that might make me immediately sick. If it's a rather open area, I'll leave it off though. I'm 41 and have smoked for 20 years, so the idea of dying from asbestosis in another 40-60 years doesn't cross my eyes too bad, but in general I'd recommend wearing one, even a cheaper one, than doing nothing at all. Probably won't work in every situation, but having one might add points towards looking more innocuous; you're clearly just a safety conscious explorer (hobbyist) rather than some idiot vandal...
| Dang, I just noticed autocorrect caused me to misspell Mr. Bitey's name...sorry about that! Guess I need to do a better job at proofreading 😕.
| "When you've truly done something right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all." |
| DarkAngel
Gender: Male Total Likes: 275 likes
His operating system is unstable.
| | | Re: Breathing Equipment < Reply # 13 on 3/22/2019 11:56 PM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Posted by blackhawk
This has discussed at length in other threads. However wearing a good, custom fitted* respirator is not fun, comfortable and sometimes not safe because they limit you downward vision. Your most dangerous threats are immediate not long term. You get one shot to spot hellholes. Try shooting with respiratory using the viewfinder You use a considerable about of energy to overcome to filter resistance in a fine particulate filter(s). A paper mask offers some protection from biohazards like hantavirus but that's as far as I go and even then... don't stir up dust!!! Without special training you aren't qualified or ready to enter highly contaminated areas... and also may not know all of what you are dealing with. Some chemicals are contact hazards. The one thing you should protect at all times are your eyes... *without an airtight fit it is jewelry. Many different face shapes and sizes; other than paper masks, one size doesn't fit all!
| TLDR: This. TLDR for below: Unless you know what you're doing, a respirator is pretty useless at best, and bad at worst. Don't stir up dust. Contaminated environments aren't fun and if you aren't careful about it, it's a good way to get fucked up for life. Edit: if it's somewhere that I'll need to deal with the below, I skip it 99% of the time. Lot of effort for (IMO) minimal reward. === Sure, you can buy a respirator and filters at a hardware store or online, but there is a reason why a proper fit test is required for work/hazmat use. Without a proper seal, either it's useless or you can potentially trap contaminants in the mask, increasing inhalation risk. Let alone donning or removing said mask without introducing contaminants, proper methods of cleaning it, what filters to use when, etc, etc, etc. I've worn them for a living, and trust me it fucking sucks. Especially if you're having to go in full tyvek or dealing with negative pressure rooms and airlocks. You could drop a couple hundred (bare minimum) and get a PAPR setup, but then you're adding air lines, battery packs, flow testing, etc to it. Let alone regular maintenance. But okay, you've got your air supply handled for some magical reason. What about particulates you've picked on your clothes and gear, embedded in your shoes, etc? What's the proper decon so you're not dragging all that crap home with you?
[last edit 3/23/2019 12:08 AM by DarkAngel - edited 1 times]
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| Samurai Vehicular Lord Rick
Location: northeastern New York Total Likes: 1900 likes
No matter where you go, there you are...
| | | Re: Breathing Equipment < Reply # 16 on 3/25/2019 5:31 PM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Posted by blackhawk
Respirators restrict air inflow and could trigger an asthma attack. They substantially increase your breathing work load especially during physical exertion. If memory serves me correctly asthma is a red flag for respirator use... Avoid high dust areas. Even with a respirator you will drag it home on your cloths and gear.
| I used to have to wear a Scott o-vista gas mask at my job... it's a fucking nightmare to breathe through when you're exerting yourself. (trust me on this- there are a ton of stairs in the modern paper mill) The o-vista mask also had the ability to be used with an SCBA. meat of my thing is that you kind of have to know what you're facing when you buy filters for these things. Our filters were for H2S and ClO2, but didn't guard against other shit. I've been giving these topics a lot of thought as of late, since I have nothing better to do and a few questions have come up (in light of my experience working in serious industry for the better part of two decades)… if you're going into a location so serious nasty you need breathing apparatus, are you going to drag that shit back to the car? how much of that shit will be on your clothes on the trek back? On your shoes to be tracked back to the car and subsequently your home, family and pets? I mean, it's all well and good to boldly go where no one really wants to go, get those awesome photos, but at what cost? when I worked in that paper mill, I had to leave my work boots either at work (or doing snowy times), leave the at the door. After some shifts, I would get so covered in chemical crap, I had to put garbage bags on the floor and seats of my car and take my clothes off on the porch (the neighbors loved that). I guess what I am getting at is just know what you're getting into and don't guess.
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