ONE-STOP RESPIRATOR FIT TESTING

Respirator fit testing is a medical evaluation that measures whether a respirator properly fits an individual’s face and provides adequate protection against airborne hazards. Respirator fit testing may only occur after the employee completes and passes an OSHA medical evaluation.

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) mandates respirator Fit testing at the federal and state levels for most localities. Employees working in a position regulated by OSHA Respirator Standard CFR 1910.134 must have a respirator fit test done at least once a year. The test always takes place before working with a new respirator or after changes in the employee’s facial characteristics. Annual or more frequent tests ensure continuous protection against respirator wear and tear and facial changes.

Respirator fit testing is important for ensuring that employees are protected from airborne hazards in the workplace. A properly fitting respirator significantly reduces the risk of respiratory illness or injury due to exposure to hazardous airborne particles.

Respirator fit testing is required for employees who are required to wear respirators as part of their job duties. This includes employees who work in healthcare, construction, agriculture, mining, chemical application, natural gas, medical education, emergency response, and asbestos abatement, among others.

OSHA requires each respirator wearer to complete a medical evaluation. A Physician or Licensed Healthcare Professional (PLHCP) reviews the completed evaluation to make sure the wearer meets all requirements necessary to wear the respirator. Should a concern arise from the evaluation, the PLHCP will discuss results and recommend appropriate action, depending on medical necessity.

Every employer who falls under OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard is also required to create and maintain a respiratory protection plan. Your respiratory protection plan must be written and address these 11 elements:

1. Respirator use areas
2. Selection of respirators
3. Medical evaluations
4. Respirator fit testing
5. Access to respirators
6. Training and education
7. Record keeping
8. Review and updates
9. Emergencies
10. Supervision and enforcement
11. Communication

Want help creating and managing a successful respiratory protection plan? Check out our Breakdown for Employers or contact us about ways we can support your efforts.

As always, a pregnant woman should consult her physician before any type of exam or activity.  However, all clinical research confirms the complete safety of respirator fit testing and that it would not cause any pregnancy complications.

There are two types of respirator fit testing: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative testing uses the employee’s sense of taste to determine whether a respirator properly fits, while quantitative testing uses specialized equipment to measure the amount of air leaking into the respirator.

Respirator fit testing should be performed annually for employees who wear respirators as part of their job duties. Testing should also be performed whenever an employee changes their respirator model or size, gains or loses more than 20 pounds, or undergoes any facial/cosmetic changes that could affect the fit of the respirator.

Respirators commonly used in the workplace include N95 filtering facepiece respirators, half-facepiece respirators, and full-facepiece respirators.

Respirator fit testing can help ensure that employees are properly protected against hazardous airborne substances, reduce the risk of exposure-related illnesses and injuries, and improve workplace safety.

Respiratory hazards that a fit-tested mask is intended to protect against include, but are not limited to:

• Dust and Fibers: Solid particles formed from the mechanical process.
  Examples: lead, asbestos
• Fumes: Solid particles that vaporize and condense in cool air.
  Examples: welding fumes
• Mists: Liquid droplets suspended in the air from spraying operations.
  Examples: paint spray mist
• Gases: Individual molecules in the air at room temperature.
  Examples: carbon monoxide
• Vapors: Gaseous substances, normally liquid or solid at room temperature. Examples: solvents
• Biological Hazards: Living organisms that can cause infections.
  Examples: viruses, animal waste
• Airborne Pathogens: Diseases that can spread through the air. 
  Examples: Measles, tuberculosis

Respirator fit testing typically takes around 15 minutes per employee.

Respirator fit test results can be highly accurate when conducted properly by trained evaluators using advanced technology.

Different flavored solutions, some sweet and some bitter, are used in qualitative fit testing because some candidates have high sensitivity to flavors or lackluster taste.

If the tester introduces the saccharine solution first during the respirator fit test, and you cannot taste the saccharin, then the tester will introduce the bitter solution.  If the candidate cannot taste the bitter solution, the tester should do an additional consult to see if they can introduce another irritant.  Alternatively, they might conduct a quantitative fit test to achieve a true outcome.

NOTE: Lack of taste could be a symptom of COVID-19. Consult a physician prior to testing.

No. The respirator they’ve been tested on has passed “inspection.” Not all masks are created equal and not all are appropriate for their facial configuration. OSHA requires that they be fit-tested on EVERY model of mask assigned for work.

Under OSHA regulations, respirator fit tests (RFTs) should be completed annually. That means an employee should be refitted for a respirator every year — or immediately if they require a different respirator. Further, individuals who gain or lose weight, such as during pregnancy, or experience other facial changes, require refitting. Any of these changes can affect proper respirator fit.

Ideally, employees should cycle among several respirators. Handle respirators by their elastic bands only. After removal, the CDC recommends storing each respirator in a paper bag labeled with the date and wearer’s name. That’s because viral matter doesn’t survive as long in a paper environment as it does in other environments. So, each employee should use a respirator for several days, store it in a paper bag, then re-use a previously stored respirator.

Yes. Upon successful completion of the respirator fit test, all passing candidates will receive a clearance card or certificate specifying the respirator make and model for which they have been cleared.  This complies with OSHA regulations to provide a copy of results to the candidate to maintain on their person for proof.

Yes, Mobile Health offers customized respirator fit testing solutions and online OSHA medical evaluations that are tailored to each employer’s needs.

The smallest Fit Kit™ includes supplies for 100 respirator fit tests, 25 online medical evaluations, two hoods, two nebulizers, and comprehensive live training for staff.

Reach out to your Mobile Health Account Manager or contact us to get in touch with a Mobile Health representative.