Construction Dust Mask

A dust mask is a flexible paper pad held over the nose and mouth by elastic or rubber straps for personal comfort against non-toxic nuisance dusts. They are not intended to provide protection from toxic airborne hazards.    

Wearing a suitable dust mask can effectively prevent dust in the air from being inhaled and protect the lungs. When inhaling, the air is drawn in through the dust mask, and dust is trapped on the outside of the mask. If the dust mask does not fit your face, the dust is likely to be sucked into your lungs and cause harm to your body. Dust masks don't filter out chemical vapors. It is very important to choose the right dust mask.

What is the difference between a dust mask and a respirator?

The most significant difference between dust masks and respirators is that dust masks aren't NIOSH-approved disposable filtering facepieces.

We can comfortably wear dust masks during other activities such as sweeping and dusting to protect against nasty, non-toxic dust. But these masks, unlike respirators, do not provide effective protection against harmful dust, gases, or vapors.

From the point of view of the wearing method, the wearing method of a dust mask is the same as that of a filtering face mask respirator. But they serve specific purposes, preventing the spread of different harmful substances, so mixing them up is dangerous. Wearing an incorrect mask on the job can be serious and potentially fatal. Many dust masks with different levels of protection look similar, but some may not be dustproof at all.

They are ideal for non-hazardous environments and are not considered to be a personal protective devices that can provide respiratory protection to the wearer.