While many organizations handle respirator fit testing in-house, these programs can fail to meet OSHA requirements and leave workers at risk. From assigning the wrong respirator, to disorganized records, and non-compliant fit testing, these issues indicate it’s time to call in the experts. Let’s take a closer look at the top six reasons why your in-house respirator fit testing program likely isn’t working and why you should outsource it.
1. Turnover Kills Your Ability to Maintain Consistent Fit Testing
Employee turnover can have a significant impact on an organization’s respiratory protection program. When a program administrator or fit tester leaves, their knowledge and experience leaves with them, making it challenging to maintain the program’s consistency. This can lead to improperly fitted respirators and reporting mistakes, putting workers at risk. When you outsource with Mobile Health, our on-site teams and 6,500 clinics are equipped with clinicians who live and breathe respiratory compliance.
2. Your Respiratory Protection Program is Not in Place or Outdated
An outdated or non-existent written respiratory protection program can lead to confusion and inconsistencies when it comes to respirator selection, OSHA medical evaluations, and fit testing. If your program is outdated or not in place, Mobile Health has a free guide that walks you through what needs to be included in one, and can help you implement or improve yours to get compliant.
3. Recordkeeping is a Nightmare
OSHA requires organizations to maintain detailed records of their respiratory protection program, including OSHA medical evaluation and fit test results. Many organizations rely on paper records or multiple databases to track their program. This can quickly become a nightmare to manage, with inconsistencies leading to fines during an OSHA audit.
Outsourcing your program can help avoid these issues. Mobile Health ensures your organization consolidates records into a single database, with all future records compliantly stored in our Respirator Fit Testing Portal.
4. Your Respirator Protection Program is Not OSHA Compliant
OSHA has specific requirements for respirator fit testing, and respirator protection programs. If your program does not meet OSHA’s requirements, it can put workers at risk. For example, OSHA requires that fit testing be performed using a quantitative or qualitative method, depending on the respirator type. Mobile Health ensures your medical evaluation and fit testing methods meet OSHA’s standards.
5. Too Many Employees to Test, Not Enough Staff to Test Them
Another common issue with in-house respirator fit testing is that the process can be time-consuming, especially when there are too many employees to test and not enough staff to do it. Staff responsible for conducting the fit tests often find that the additional workload takes them away from their primary job duties, causing a backlog of tasks. Eventually, testing is rushed or skipped, leading to potential safety risks for workers.
Mobile Health can come on-site and ensure all staff are fit tested in one go. Then, you can send new hires or those who can’t make an on-site event to one of our 6,500 nationwide clinics.
6. No Process for OSHA Medical Evaluations
OSHA requires employers to provide medical evaluations to employees who are required to use respirators before a respirator fit test is performed. OSHA requires evaluations to be reviewed by a PLHCP (Physician or Other Licensed Health Care Professional), making this a hard process to complete in-house and is often forgotten in the process. Mobile Health’s online medical evaluations can be completed in minutes with a real-time review by our licensed healthcare professionals. We report results directly to our Respirator Fit Testing Portal, the same place we report fit testing results.
Consequences of Improper Fit Testing
If your organization fails an audit, it can lead to fines (over $16,000 per violation) and increased inspections from OSHA. If you have an expert point person for all things OSHA over your respiratory protection program, that’s great! If not, it’s time to turn to an outside provider that will make your program their top priority to keep workers safe and prevent OSHA fines.
Outsource Your Program Today
Don’t let a poorly executed respiratory fit testing program put your employees at risk or cause stress for your staff. Outsource your program today and enjoy peace of mind knowing that your program is in good hands. Mobile Health offers on-site and in-clinic fit testing, providing a quick and convenient solution to fit testing challenges. Our experienced staff can ensure that your respiratory protection program is up to OSHA standards and your employees are properly protected. Contact us with your current pain points related to fit testing to get the conversation started.
