Fit Testing for Respirator Safety

Workers who work around hazardous fumes, chemicals, and dust need to wear the proper PPE (personal protective equipment) to prevent serious injury or illness. Respirators protect against these contaminants by forming a tight seal over the face, but only when they are correctly worn and sized. Because everyone’s facial shape and size is different, respirator fit testing must be conducted before anyone is allowed to use a mask in a dangerous environment. There are two types of fit tests: qualitative and quantitative.

The former relies on a user’s sense of taste or smell to detect leakage, and uses such substances as Bitrex (harmless, bitter-tasting chemical) and Saccharin (sweet-tasting chemical) to measure air leakage. The latter, which is the method used at GMG EnviroSafe, requires a respirator to be sealed on the test subject and then exposed to a challenge agent that can be detected by a machine using a sensor such as a flow tube or an infrared device. The sensor measures the ratio of the challenge agent inside the respirator to the ambient concentration and the resulting number is called the fit factor.

A qualified medical professional must perform a respiratory evaluation and review the results before an employee can be fit-tested for a respirator. This medical evaluation is usually the first step in an onsite medical program, and can be followed up with an OSHA questionnaire and/or physical exam at the physician’s discretion.

Once an employee has passed a qualitative or quantitative fit test, he or she may wear the specific respirator for which he or she was tested at all times. The only exception to this is if the employer or licensed healthcare provider determines that an employee can no longer safely wear the same respirator due to medical reasons.

Fit tests do not cover the correct method of using a respirator in a workplace environment, so training is an important part of a complete safety program. This may include training on proper sizing, maintenance and care of the mask, along with the safe use of a specific workplace’s hazardous materials. It is also important to remember that a fit test does not qualify the user to wear any other brand, make or model of respirator. Those who successfully pass a fit test must continue to perform user seal checks on a regular basis to ensure that they are still properly fitting and are protecting them from harmful inhalants.

To ensure that your employees are able to wear their chosen respirator, GMG EnviroSafe offers a range of cutting-edge respiratory fit testing machines for both qualitative and quantitative tests. These machines allow for the assessment of both full-face and SCBA-type masks in a controlled environment, and provide the most accurate measurements possible. If you’re interested in learning more about our industry-leading solutions, contact us today!