Get Allina Health Documentation Of Respirator Fit Testing And Training 2022-2025

During a positive pressure user seal check, the respirator user exhales gently while blocking the paths for air to exit the facepiece. A successful check is when the facepiece is slightly pressurized before increased pressure causes outward leakage.

Required Qualifications for Respirator Fit Test Providers OSHA does not list specific training requirements for fit test providers. As long as the person you select to perform the fit test can follow the procedure properly and documents the results, you should be compliant.

Not everyone can get a good fit with one specific respirator. If the respirator fails the fit test, then another make, model, style, or size must be tried until one is found that fits you properly.

Under 1910.134, fit testing must be performed initially (before the employee is required to wear the respirator in the workplace) and must be repeated at least annually. Fit testing must also be conducted whenever respirator design or facial changes occur that could affect the proper fit of the respirator.

Nevertheless OSHA continues to require that, for a quantitative fit test, the wearer of the respirator must achieve a fit factor of at least 100. The agency also requires, as addressed in [29 CFR 1910.134], that wearers of respirators conduct a fit check each and every time they don a respirator.

Fit testing uses a test agent, either qualitatively detected by the wearer's sense of taste, smell, or involuntary cough (irritant smoke) or quantitatively measured by an instrument, to verify the respirator's fit.

A fit factor of at least 100 is required for half-mask respirators and a minimum fit factor of 500 for a full facepiece negative-pressure respirator.

A minimum fit factor pass level of 100 is necessary for a half-mask respirator and a minimum fit factor of at least 500 is required for a full facepiece respirator.