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There are many types of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) available. This can make selecting the correct type a complicated business, but it is vital that the right equipment is used, because different types of RPE only give protection against specific types of chemicals. There are two main groups: respirators, which filter substances from the air, and equipment which supplies clean air to the worker.

Respirators trap chemical contaminants in a filter before they can be breathed in. Because they do not supply oxygen, they must never be used in oxygen-deficient atmospheres. Choice of filter is also crucial, as different filters offer protection against only certain chemicals. The most efficient particle filters are the hardest to breathe through, and as a result are uncomfortable to wear. However, powered respirators are also available. Wearing RPE is hard work, and can reduce heat loss from the body, so tasks involving RPE need to be designed with this in mind. Respirators are also not effective if they leak, so they must be chosen to fit an individual worker's face correctly, for example to take account of a worker's spectacles or beard.

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