RESPIRATOR FIT TESTING FAQs
First time fit testing? We’ve got all the A’s to your Q’s. These respirator fit testing FAQs provide answers to common RFT questions.
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) mandates Respirator Fit Testing (RFT) on the federal level and state level for most localities. Employees working in a position regulated by OSHA Respirator Standard CFR 1910.134 must have a respirator fit testing 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.
The respirator fit test (RFT) must be performed as part of pre-employment screening and for anyone with an occupational risk for exposure to workplace pathogens. In short, the RFT confirms the right mask and fit adjustments for an employee exposed to workplace airborne hazards.
The respiratory fit test takes approximately 15 minutes.
OSHA requires each respirator wearer to complete a medical evaluation. A 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.
In certain respirator fit testing (RFT) cases, you may use a web-based medical evaluation tool to support RFT programs. The online medical evaluation tool allows medical clearance of workers online without the need to go to a clinic. The worker completes and submits the simple worksite form through a computer, phone, or tablet.
As always, you should consult your physician prior to any type of exam or activity. However, all clinical research confirms the complete safety of the respirator fit test and would not cause any complications to your pregnancy.
During this test, the tester will ask you to wear the respirator along with a hood over your head. The tester then applies a series of test agents and gauges your ability to detect the smells and tastes.
Wearing the fit test hood is 100 percent safe as long as testers follow proper sanitation protocols. Testers should use an EPA-approved solution to sanitize before, during, and after every fit test to kill any bacteria, virus, or other pathogens.
These same sanitation protocols apply to nebulizers. Nebulizers produce a mist of solution for tasting by the individual. Due to spacing from the front of the hood to the front of the face, chances are minimal that any droplets would contaminate the nebulizers, providing testers sanitize the nebulizers between uses.
Mobile Health uses different flavored solutions, some sweet and some bitter, 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: Due to the current healthcare climate, lack of taste could be a symptom of COVID-19. Consult a physician prior to testing.
No. The respirator you’ve been tested on has passed ‘inspection.’ Not all masks are created equal and not all are appropriate for your facial configuration. OSHA requires that you be fit-tested on EVERY model of mask assigned for work.
Under OSHA regulations, respirator fit tests (RFTs) should be completed annually. That means you should be refitted for your respirator every year – sooner if you 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.
The respirator is made to be disposable. You should change it out during the workday, at least once per day. However, due to the current healthcare climate, the CDC recommends using protective personal equipment (PPE), including respirators, as long as possible. With proper storage and sanitation, the respirator should remain usable for up to a week.
NOTE: Respirators are not waterproof. If a respirator gets wet, dispose of it. Also, if the inside appears to deteriorate, such as exhibiting pulls or other extreme signs of wear, throw it away.
Ideally, you 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, use the respirator for several days, store it in a paper bag, then re-use a previously stored respirator.
Do NOT spray any aerosol solution into the respirator. While some believe this process kills viral matter, spraying affects the integrity of the respirator. Ultimately, spraying breaks down respirator quality and makes the wearer more susceptible to contracting or transmitting a virus or inhaling additional aerosol the N95 would have prevented.
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.
Contact us to connect with a Mobile Health representative who will address your respirator fit testing concerns.