do you need a mask

Russ Spence

Russ Spence

Commercial Pressure Wash Expert
do any of you roof washing guys use a mask or a breathing device when applying sodium hypoclorite to a roof .....i have been in the buisness for 10 years but until the last few months just started doing roofs as many of you know ....the reason for my questin is because it was really warm here yesterday and i did a large roof job and i was really hoarse and short of breath when i got through ....i seemed to smell it a lot worse because the roof was warm......and by the way i walked this while applying due to a low pitch.....thanks
 
Russ

On warm days especially, I wear the respirator. I try to use it whenever, but the more chem I'm using, the more apt I am to use a mask.

I/we really should be using the proper ppe every time we go to work, from seatbelts while driving to assistance while working.

Why work yourself to death?;)
 
We use respirators, but not as often as we should. It's a bit of a catch 22. As hot as it gets, if I wear one I feel like I'm suffocating from the heat. If I don't, I'm suffocating from the fumes. I tend to wear it around my neck and go back and forth with it.

If you buy one, be sure that it's cartridges are rated for chlorine gas.
 
HD & Lowe's carries them. In the safety isle near the hardware. They'll look alike, so be sure to read the package for the correct one.
 
well i have cleaned three 2000+ square foot roofs in the last 2 days and i tried using the respirator and i almost passed out from the heat!!!!! it was 93 yesterday and 91 today with almost 100% humidity i.e. it feels like 135 degrees on the roof !!!!if i dont die from the fall after passing out the only other alternative is to breathe it all in and die anyway.....at least i will die doing what i love!!!!
 
I wear my respirator when applying chlorine or any type of chemical but once done applying I walk away and take it off. I've been in this business now for 11 yrs and the first few years I didn't wear the respirator much when applying chemicals and I was getting shortness of breath to many times. Plus I started to get faringitis more often which might have been partly do to applying chemicals without a mask.

One of the guys who works for me never wears a mask and he smokes like a chimney. One day last year while I was applying the oxalic acid on a cedar house the mist from this chemical caught an airpocket and traveled about 50 ft and hit this guy who then started caughing continuesly. A short while later he went to the emergency room where he was admitted for a few days because he couldn't clear his throught.

Moral of the story..this guy still doesn't wear his mask...
 
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