What is the last piece of protective equipment that should be removed?

The last piece of protective equipment that should be removed is the respirator. This is critical for ensuring the safety and health of the individual involved in handling or monitoring asbestos. During asbestos work, respirators are designed to filter out hazardous airborne particles, including asbestos fibers, which pose significant health risks when inhaled.

Removing the respirator last helps to ensure that, as the worker is decontaminating and removing other protective gear, they do not inadvertently expose themselves to asbestos fibers that may still be present in the environment. If the respirator is removed before other gear, there is a risk of inhalation of any remaining hazardous particles, which could result in serious health consequences. Therefore, maintaining respiratory protection until the final decontamination steps are completed is a fundamental safety protocol in asbestos-related work.

In contrast, items like gloves, coveralls, and safety glasses could be removed earlier in the process once the individual is in a controlled and low-risk environment, whereas the respirator serves as a critical barrier against potentially harmful airborne contaminants until the very end.