Respiratory Protection Applications & Hazards

Every respiratory protection application has its own unique challenges and hazards. That's why 3M™ Respirators are designed with features that will meet the needs of your industry and specific application, providing protection against particulates, gas and vapors, organic vapors and nuisance odors.

Hazards

  • 3M Disposable Respirator protecting man from sawdust particulates
    Particulates

    3M particulate filters provide protection against solid or liquid particles such as dust, mists, fibers, fumes or bioaerosols. The respirators they work with feature adjustable noseclips or silicone seals to help provide a customer seal, a variety of strap types and attachments, and filter medias suitable for oil and non-oil environments. Depending on your ADF needs there are options for combination hazards.

  • 3M Respirator protecting man from gases and vapors while cleaning a boat
    Gases and Vapors

    Some 3M™ gas and vapor cartridges come with an end-of-service-life indicator that can help users determine when it's time to change to a new cartridge. For environments where you need respiratory protection from both particulates and gases and vapors, 3M offers combi cartridges.

  • 3M Respirator protecting man from organic vapors
    Organic Vapors

    All 3M vapor cartridges identify which type of vapor they are designed to help protect against on the label band on the outside of the cartridge. There are also cartridge options for organic vapor combination cartridges for hazards that include an organic vapor and either acid gases or Formaldehyde.

  • 3M Disposable Respirator protecting man from nuisance odors
    Nuisance Odors

    If you've conducted an exposure assessment and determined worker exposure levels are less than relevant occupational exposure for non-hazardous gases or vapors, a respirator for nuisance odors might be what you need.

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Applications

  • 3M Respiratory Pharmaceutical Industry Icon
    Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

    Our respirators can help protect your workers who are handling small to large molecules and those exposed to solvents, acids and volatile organic compounds.  

  • 3M Respiratory Transportation Industry Icon
    Transportation Manufacturing

    Whether you are welding, grinding and finishing or painting, foaming and coating, our respiratory protection products can help you meet your PEL needs with comfort and style

  • 3M Respiratory Emergency Preparedness Industry Icon
    Healthcare & Emergency Prepardeness

    Find the respiratory products and resources you need to help manage the hazardous situations you encounter. Find respiratory protection information to help you with managing your patients with confirmed infection or PUI, patient decontamination, or emergency prepardeness.

  • Mortar and pestal graphic
    Construction Safety

    Navigating the repistory hazards of your construction project can be overwhelming, specially when you are trying to protect against many different kinds. Our respirators come in a variety styles, can meet different ADF needs, and can often be integrated with other safety equipment you need.

Image of three different workers wearing three different types of respiratory protection

Choosing and using Respiratory Products