To address the challenges faced by workers in high-risk dusty environments due to prolonged respirator wearing, the Institute of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health (hereafter referred to as ILOSH) under the Ministry of Labor (MOL) has developed a breath-responsive powered air-purifying respirator (BR-PAPR). This device enhances protective performance and alleviates issues plaguing workers such as concerns about leakage due to poor fit and breathing difficulties. The BR-PAPR has been granted a Taiwan invention patent and won a silver medal in the 2024 Taiwan Innotech Expo invention contest, competing against 600 domestic and international entries, fully demonstrating ILOSH's forward-looking innovation and technological capabilities.

Work environments may contain harmful airborne substances. Business entities should effectively control the release of harmful substances through engineering control and administrative management, and take appropriate respiratory protection measures when necessary and based on the characteristics of the harmful substances. Workers engaged in high-risk dusty tasks such as welding, casting, and pandemic prevention require high-protection respirators. However, wearing respirators for a long time may cause problems such as breathing difficulties (inadequate air intake), stuffiness, and leakage due to poor fit.

Integrating various technologies, ILOSH developed the BR-PAPR, a high-performance and comfortable respirator designed to "assist breathing mechanically, and supply slightly more air than required for inhalation." This provides workers with enhanced protection while alleviating issues such as heat, humidity, and breathing discomfort caused by respirator use. This R&D achievement is built upon ILOSH's extensive experience in respirator research, optimizing and adjusting valve and fan designs to effectively address issues of poor fit and leakage. By integrating pressure sensing and smart control technologies, the breath-responsive system provides high-quality breathing assistance, effectively improving user comfort and battery endurance. To thoroughly understand the potential issues workers may encounter while using the device in actual work environments, ILOSH is producing a batch of test samples and inviting workers exposed to high dust levels to assist in evaluations and provide feedback for improvements. This will support future mass production and broader application, benefiting workers.

Keywords: Respirator, Dust Exposure Workplace, Breath-Responsive Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (BR-PAPR)