 |
|
|
Respirator Fit Testing
Prior to providing employees with
respirators, The respirator must
be selected according to the Respirator
Selection
Procedure 29 CFR
1910.134(d)(1)(i) - (d)(3)(iv)
Requirements
Fit testing must be performed any time a
respirator is issued to a worker, when a
different make or model of respirator is
used, whenever something that could affect
the fit of a respirator such as change in
the employee's facial characteristic
(changes due to weight gain or loss..) and
on an annual basis.
Fit testing will be done after the
employee's medical evaluation, if one is
required. The employee must provide the
original copy of the Medical Certification
to the tester before a fit test is done.
Workers with facial hair will not be
issued respirators requiring a fit test
because the tester cannot assure that the
respirator will properly fit and continue
to form a seal under conditions of use.
There are Two types of fit tests,
Qualitative and Quantitative.
Qualitative fit testing will be performed
either by DEHS staff, or any other
designated individuals. Quantitative
fit testing must be performed by a trained
DEHS staff only.
Qualitative
Testing
For first time respirator users proceed as
follow:
- The employee must be allowed to
select their own respirator in order
to get a good and comfortable fit.
- Assist the employee select the
respirator he/she wants from available
models and sizes.
- Let the employee place different
masks of different sizes to their face
in order to find a mask that has a
good fit.
- Assist the employee to: properly put
on respirator, proper position the
respirator, check strap tension, and
determine if there is an acceptable
fit.
- Have the employee put on the chosen
mask and wear for 5 minutes and assess
his /her comfort taking into
consideration:
- Respirator position on the nose
- Room for eye protection (use a pair
of goggles when necessary)
- Enough room to talk.
- Position on face and cheeks
- Have the employee determine adequacy
of respirator fit by checking
- Chin placement
- Strap tension
- Fit across Nose
- Size of mask - goes from nose to
chin
- Look in mirror for self-observation
- Have the employee move head up and
down and side to side while taking
slow deep breaths in order to properly
seat the mask on face.
- Have Employee conducts the following
user seal check.
A. Positive
pressure
check
- Close off the exhalation valve
- Exhale gently into face-piece.
B. Negative pressure check
- Close off inlet opening of canister
or cartridge by covering with palm of
hand, or by replacing the filter seals
- Inhale gently until face-piece
collapses slightly
Using a solution of the Bitrex
Test Agent
[Test agents may include Banana oil
(isoamyl acetate), Saccharin, or Bitrex]
A.
Taste threshold screening (Performed
without wearing a respirator)
- Have employee put test hood on
- Have employee breathe through mouth
with tongue extended
- Spray threshold check solution into
the hood - ten rapid squeezes, fully
pressing on bulb and letting it
completely expand
- If employee tastes the Bitrex,
record number of squeezes (ten no
matter how many actually squeezed)
- If employee does not taste Bitrex,
add ten more squeezes of Bitrex.
- If employee now tastes the Bitrex,
record number of squeezes (twenty no
matter how many actually squeezed)
- Continue until you reach 30
squeezes, if the employee cannot taste
the Bitrex, they have no sensitivity
to it, and therefore cannot be fit
tested with it, dismiss employee until
can fit test with different solution
(call environmental Health and Safety
Office 726-6764)
- When the employee taste the bitrex,
have him/her remember the taste for
reference during the next fit test
step
B.
Aerosol fit test procedure (with
respirator on)
- Ensure the employee has not eaten,
drank, chewed gum, or smoked for at
least 15 minutes before the test.
- Have the employee put on respirator
and hood
- Have the employee breathe through
mouth with tongue extended
- Ask the employee to notify you if
the taste of Bitrex is detected
- Squeeze Bitrex into hood using same
number of squeezes necessary during
taste threshold screening
- Have the employee perform the
following exercises:
- Normal breathing - 1 minute
- Deep breathing - 1 minute (slow deep
breaths in order not to
hyperventilate)
- Turn head from side to side - inhale
at each side - 1 minute
- Move head up an down - inhale in the
up position - 1 minute
- Talk - Read prepared text, count
backward from 100 or recite a
memorized song
- Bend over - at waist, pretend
touching toes, or jogging in place - 1
minute
- Normal breathing - 1 minute
- If the employee does not detect the
taste of Bitrex, the test is passed.
- If the taste of Bitrex is detected,
the test has failed and the employee
must start over (threshold screening
and fit testing) and with a new
respirator if necessary.
|
|
|
|
