Restoration industry work has the potential for serious breathing hazards. They may be evident before even walking into the building – in the form of odor or dust – and provide advanced warning. However, some are not detectable (e.g. asbestos) and provide no warning. Then there are the hazards created by our own work (e.g. cutting and tearing out materials) and the chemicals we bring into the building to perform our services.  

Most restoration professionals are aware of these hazards and the need to protect themselves. As an industry, we have excellent education and certification resources (ANSI, IICRC, RIA, NIOSH, etc.) that teach us about the hazards and how to protect ourselves. However, respirators are not always used properly and sometimes not worn at all. For example, cartridges may not be changed, masks not cleaned and sometimes the health risk is trivialized. Then there are the neglected or misunderstood regulatory requirements. These are easy pitfalls to slip into. However, through awareness comes the understanding of the need for additional effort.