Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPR)

A Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) is a type of respirator used to safeguard workers against contaminated air. PAPR consists of headgear and a fan which takes air from the surrounding environment, passes it through a filter and delivers it through a hose to the users face via the hood.

Within NHSGGC the need for respiratory protection to be worn is identified through clinical risk assessment. The first choice control measure is an FFP3 mask to which staff must be face fit tested, to ensure a tight seal is achievable. Staff will only be considered for PAPR if no available FFP3 masks are suitable for them and they are required to undertake / work in Aerosol Generating procedures / environments.

If you have been identified as requiring PAPR you will require to undertake learning, complete a self assessment and be competency assessed by GGC PAPR trainers, to ensure you are competent to Don, Operate, Doff, Decontaminate and Maintain / Manage the system. If you are assessed as competent to use PAPR safely, you will be enabled to use the system during AGP work activities. PAPR must be stored at your place of work.

The head gear will always be specific to you, however the rest of the system, fan unit, hose, belt, battery and charger may be used by multiple people. Arrangements for how and where to store the PAPR and the designated areas to put on and take off the system will be explained to you by your line manager prior to you using the equipment for AGP activities.

Training in PAPR will be specific to the PAPR system you will be issued, that is, after the training you will only be able to use the specific make and model you have been trained on and issued with. A range of documentation is available for you below, including the checklists you will require, instructions for use and guidance documents to support your use of PAPR.

Drager X-Plore 8000 PAPR

• Learning Resource Document **updated 31st Jan 2021**
• Competency Assessment Form (Self & Assessor)  **New 26th Jan 2021**
• PAPR Management Considerations  **New 31st Jan 2021**
• Instructions for use
• Quick guide
• Video

Infection Prevention and Control

• Doffing PAPR  **Updated 26th Jan 2021**
• Decontamination the Drager PAPR system  **Updated 26th Jan 2021**
• Actichlor Plus usage guide - Blood Spills   **New 26th Jan 2021**
• Actichlor Plus usage guide - General Use - **New 26th Jan 2021**

Checklists

A step by step guide relating to the management process, including how to use the documentation below, for staff who have received training in the use of PAPR within NHSGGC, can be found here

• Pre-use checklist - this must be completed and signed prior to every use of the PAPR system and kept within the box where the PAPR is stored  -  ** Updated 28th Jan 2021**
• Filter change record - filters are valid for 1 month after opening. The date of opening must be recorded on this record and kept within the box where the PAPR is stored.
• Monthly checklist - this must be kept with the pre-use checklist and completed every month when the PAPR has not been used 
• Box Poster - This poster should be completed and stuck to the box that contains the PAPR unit

Document Update Record Overview