Awareness of respirator fit testing or face fit testing has increased over the years due to an expansion in regulation globally and from impacts of the global pandemic. Many times, the focus is strictly on two of the benefits, sizing the respirator and confirming the fit of the respirator. These are both very important aspects as the correct size and fit is critical in the protection provided by the respiratory protective equipment (RPE), but there are several other important benefits from fit testing that are often overlooked. Two critical aspects are respirator integrity and confirmed proper donning of the respiratory protection which each have their own effect on the given protection.
The standard that drives the requirements for RPE and its proper use for the U.S. market is OSHA CFR 1910.134 held within 1910 Subpart I Personal Protective Equipment. The standard notes that “A respirator shall be provided to each employee when such equipment is necessary to protect the health of such employee. The employer shall provide the respirators which are applicable and suitable for the purpose intended. The employer shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a respiratory protection program, which shall include the requirements outlined in paragraph (c) of this section. The program shall cover each employee required by this section to use a respirator.” When a respirator is issued, fit testing is required before the initial use as stated in section 1910.134(f) “Fit testing. This paragraph requires that, before an employee may be required to use any respirator with a negative or positive pressure tight-fitting facepiece, the employee must be fit tested with the same make, model, style, and size of respirator that will be used. This paragraph specifies the kinds of fit tests allowed the procedures for conducting them, and how the results of the fit tests must be used”. Fit Testing is also required to be performed at least annually or if there is a change to the respirator used (size, style, model or make) (1910.134(f)(2) or if there are changes in an employee’s physical condition, weight changes etc. 1910.134(f)(3).