Respirator evaluation for carbon setters with beards

Studies of several types of disposable respirators were carried out in a prebake aluminum reduction plant to determine the protection factors associated with airborne particulates in the potroom environment. Seventy-five (75) individual tests of respirator performance were carried out on 60 different carbon setters during the actual carbon setting task. Acceptable performance was achieved with all types of respirators tested. There was no significant difference in respirator performance for employees with or without beards.