Introduction
Before an employee uses a respirator with a tight-fitting facepiece, the employee must be fit tested with the same make, model, style and size of respirator that will be used. The OSHA Respirator Standard specifies the kinds of fit tests that must be done and provides procedures for conducting them in 1910.134 Appendix A.
The two major types of fit tests are:
- Qualitative Fit Test (QLFT), where the employee being tested responds to the taste, odor, or irritation of a test chemical, and
- Quantitative Fit Test (QNFT), where test equipment is used to measure the concentration of test contaminants outside and inside the respirator.
Qualitative fit tests do not require the sophisticated testing equipment needed for quantitative testing. However, the quantitative test offers greater precision and accuracy than qualitative tests. Employers may use quantitative fit testing on any type of tight-fitting respirator. For negative pressure respirators, the qualitative fit test procedures may only be used when a respirator needs to provide an Assigned Protection Factor of 10 or less (equivalent to a fit factor of 100 or less). Qualitative tests are also permitted for any positive pressure respirator. See Table 1.
| Table I.--Acceptable Fit-Testing Methods |
| |
QLFT |
QNFT |
| Half-Face, Negative Pressure |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Full-Face, Negative Pressure used in atmospheres only
up to 10 times the OEL* |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Full-Face, Negative Pressure used in atmospheres over
10 times the OEL* |
No
|
Yes
|
| PAPR |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Supplied-Air Respirators (SAR) or SCBA used in Negative
Pressure (Demand Mode) |
No
|
Yes
|
| Supplied-Air Respirators (SAR) or SCBA used in Positive
Pressure (Pressure Demand Mode) |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| SCBA-Structural Fire Fighting, Positive Pressure |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| SCBA/SAR - IDLH Positive Pressure |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Mouthbit Respirators |
Fit-testing Not Required
|
| Loose-fitting Respirators (e.g., hoods, helmets) |
Fit-testing Not Required
|
| OEL = Occupational Exposure Limit you are
applying when selecting the respirator (e.g., ACGIH TLV,
OSHA PEL, NIOSH REL) |
Use
The Respirator Fit Testing Record may be used to document
the results of qualitative and quantitative respirator fit
tests, as recommended in ANSI Z88.2 and required in OSHA Regulations.
An individual record is used for each employee assigned a
respirator that requires fit testing. Initial and annual fit
tests are recorded on one record as long as the assigned respirator
does not change. The Qualitative Fit Test Record can be specifically
used to document Qualitative Fit Testing of employees.
Although employers can perform the fit tests themselves, they may also find manufacturers and suppliers who can help them with the fit tests.
Respirator
Fit Test Record
Qualitative
Fit Test Record
|
