Which statement about respiratory protection is most appropriate when policy requires?

• A. No respirator is ever necessary.
• B. Disposable surgical mask is sufficient in all cases.
• C. N95 respirator is always required.
• D. Full-face respirator with appropriate cartridge.

Answer: (D)

When policy requires respiratory protection, you need a device that actually blocks the irritant from both breathing air and entering the eyes. A full-face respirator with an appropriate cartridge does this by providing a tight seal against the face, protecting the lungs and the eyes, and filtering the specific chemical vapors or irritants you may encounter. OC spray can create inhalation and ocular exposure, so relying on a mask that doesn’t seal or filter vapors leaves you unprotected. The disposable surgical mask doesn’t seal to the face and doesn’t filter chemical vapors, so it isn’t adequate for this hazard. An N95 respirator offers some filtration for particulates but does not provide reliable protection against chemical vapors or eye exposure, so it falls short when policy calls for chemical protection. Choosing no respirator is incompatible with any policy that requires respiratory protection. Therefore, the best choice is a full-face respirator with an appropriate cartridge, as it meets the requirement to protect both inhalation and eye exposure against OC spray.