title: [A survey on the use of respirators among dust workers in outdoor working environments].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this survey was to clarify the current status of the use of respirators among dust workers in outdoor working environments.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were 38 male workers exposed to dust, who were engaged in arc welding or quarrying in outdoor working environments. We interviewed participants about wearing and storage of respirators on site. The participants were asked 9 questions about the selection, use, fitness, maintenance, storage, and instruction in the use of respirators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this study show that all participants wore the approved dust respirators, even though it is not legally necessary to wear a respirator in outdoor working environments. Instruction about the use of respirators was found to be effective regarding inspection of the valve and headband, the fitness between the facepiece and face, the time of wearing, and storage place. However, the interviews revealed that there was insufficient knowledge about the reasons for and frequency of filter replacement. Compared to our preliminary study, the use of a knitcover decreased from 73% to 21%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that workers should be given better information on the selection, use, maintenance, and storage place of respirators to protect workers against dust exposure.
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Occupational Safety and Health Education Center, Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association, 1-4-6 Umezono, Kiyose City, Tokyo 204-0024, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aiba
authors.forename: Mikiharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoyagi
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagoya
authors.forename: Hidesuke
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004391:Dust / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004391:Dust