Everyone required to wear any type of Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) in the workplace must be face fit tested to ensure correct fitting and protection against substances potentially hazardous to health.
Face fit testing is a legal requirement for anyone who wears a tight or close fitting mask for work.
Employers have a legal responsibility to supply employees with Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) if a COSHH assessment of the workplace deems it necessary. Employers must provide suitable protection if their employees are at risk of inhaling anything which could affect their health including asbestos spores, contaminated air, chemicals, gases, other hazardous substances or when entering a confined space.
Statistics show that ill health is the biggest cause of days lost at work and deaths from workplace injury and ill health are dominated by respiratory disease, accounting for 99% of all workplace deaths. Employers often use RPE as a control measure to reduce exposure to inhaled substances. It can be used in combination with other controls, or as the main control measure itself where the tasks involved do not make other measures reasonably practicable.
Short term use
RPE is typically only provided for short term use and in line with other control measures, for example, exhaust ventilation systems. The reason being is that RPE can lead to communication or visual issues and has proven to be uncomfortable to wear for long durations. Workers who have to use this kind of equipment must remain clean shaven in order to ensure that the masks fit closely to the skin to avoid any potential leaks. If an employee has facial hair for a religious reason, alternative forms of RPE are available.
Masks
A tight fitting face piece is a full-face mask, a half facemask, or a filtering face piece (commonly referred to as a disposable mask). The performance of these types of face pieces, irrespective of whether they are used in negative pressure respirators, power assisted respirators or compressed air supplied breathing apparatus, relies heavily on the quality of fit of the face piece to the wearer’s face. An inadequate fit will significantly reduce the protection provided to the wearer.
Training course content
Face Fit training courses are usually half a day in duration and teach the delegates about the different masks available, how to choose the appropriate mask to wear and about failures in the equipment.
Courses on how to conduct qualitative fit testing
This course will typically cover:
- The background to fit testing
- Fit testing vs. Fit checking
- What equipment needs fit testing
- When fit testing should be conducted
- In depth training on how to correctly use Qualitative Fit Test Kits with many practical hints and tips
- Identifying and correcting failures
- Advice on how to structure a fit testing session and properly brief test subjects
- Practical fit testing to gain experience and confidence
- How to look after fit test kits
- Record keeping
Qualitative face fit testing
This testing is for any wearer who wears a half-face mask. The test involves the user wearing a hood and tests their sense of taste and smell using a non-toxic agent. This test looks for leakage.
Quantitative face fit testing
This testing is for users of full-face self-contained respiratory masks, like breathing apparatus. The number of ambient particles inside and outside the facepiece are counted. The purpose is to ensure that the mask is correctly fitted with a tight seal around the wearer’s face.
Typical qualitative and quantitative course content
Typically, the following areas will be covered:
- Regulations and Guidance
- The Purpose and Applicability of Fit Testing
- Procedures for Selection of Adequate and Suitable RPE
- Fit Factors and Protection Factors
- Examination Procedures for RPE, Identification of Maintenance Problems
- Correct Donning Procedures and Pre-Use Fit Checks
- Qualitative and Quantitative Face-Fit Testing
- Diagnostic Checks on Equipment
- Correct Fit Testing Procedures, Purpose of the Fit Testing Exercises
- Problem Solving
- Capabilities and Limitations of the Fit Testing Equipment
- Interpretation of Results
There are certain face fit exercises for both qualitative and quantitative tests. These include:
- Normal breathing
- Deep breathing
- Head side to side
- Head up and down
- Bending
- Talking
RPE fit tester training
There are many courses available to managers and supervisors whose staff are in need of face fit training. Subject covered may include:
- RPE overview, maintenance
- A practical qualitative fit test demonstration
- The limitations of RPE
- The background to face fit testing
- Health issues
- The legislation
- Face fit test procedures
- The face fit sensitivity test
- Face fit pass levels
- Mask fit test failures and retesting
- Planning face fit training for staff
- About documentation and recording
If you’re looking for face fit testing courses, then do get in touch with us on 01282 504455 or get in touch here.
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