Face Fit Testing: What is it and what is involved?
Who needs a Fit Test?
A fit test should be carried out on any individual who is required to wear tight-fitting RPE the first time they use a particular type of respirator, whether a disposable mask, half mask or full mask.
Respiratory devices that include a loose-fitting hood or constant-flow airline breathing apparatus do not need to be fit tested, but separate appropriate measures should be taken to make sure it is being worn correctly. A fit test should be repeated whenever there is a change to the RPE type, size, model or material or whenever there is a change to the circumstances of the wearer that could alter the fit of the RPE for example: weight loss or gain, substantial dental work, any facial changes (scars, moles, effects of ageing etc) around the face seal area, facial piercings, introduction or change in other head-worn personal protective equipment (PPE).
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not stipulate a frequency of testing, however the Fit2Fit RPE Fit Tester Provider Accreditation Scheme recommends that a suitable interval for repeat fit testing is two years. In some situations, more frequent repeat fit testing may be appropriate, particularly where RPE is being used as a primary or sole means of control.
Is Fit Testing a legal requirement?
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to provide and maintain a safe working environment. In addition to the COSHH Regulations 2002, RPE may need to be used to satisfy requirements in the following pieces of legislation:
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002
Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999
Confined Spaces Regulations 1997
These Regulations are supported by Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs), give practical guidance on compliance and have a special status in law. For RPE use that is not covered by any of the above Regulations, employers and employees have duties to follow under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.
Who can carry out a Fit Test?
RPE fit testing should be conducted by a competent person who is appropriately trained, qualified and experienced in providing appropriate guidance to respiratory wearers.
Following the guidance as specified in INDG 479 is not compulsory and you are free to take other actions. But if you do follow the guidance as specified in INDG 479 you will normally be doing enough to comply with the law. Health and safety inspectors seek to secure compliance with the law and may refer to this guidance as illustration of good practice.
User seal check A pre-use wearer seal check should be carried out each time a fit-tested facepiece is worn and before entering a hazardous environment. This check is to determine whether the wearer has correctly donned a facepiece before entering a contaminated work area.
How do you carry out a Fit Test?
A fit test should always be conducted by a competent individual trained on the fit testing equipment used, and in a suitable environment based on the testing equipment used. The fit tester should always ensure that the testing equipment is in good working order, properly set up and checked or tested before conducting the fit test. It is important to maintain and calibrate the fit testing equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
There are two basic types of RPE fit testing - qualitative and quantitative methods.
Qualitative Fit Testing (QLFT) The Qualitative method is a pass/fail test based on the wearer’s subjective assessment of any leakage through the face seal region by detecting the introduction of a bitter- or sweet-tasting or fragranced aerosol as a test agent. QLFT methods are suitable for disposable and reusable half masks but are not suitable for full-face masks. This type of test is based on subjective detection and response by the RPE wearer and it is important that it is administered by a fit tester competent in using this method.
Quantitative Fit Testing (QNFT) A Quantitative method provides a numerical measure of how well a facepiece seals against a wearer’s face, which is called a Fit Factor. These tests give an objective measurement of face fit. There are two types of QNFT methods: Controlled negative pressure (CNP) and ambient particle counting (APC).
CNP fit testing can be carried out in any test conditions, clean or dirty air, indoors or outdoors, as it measures the amount of air leaking out of the mask when controlled negative pressure is applied to create a vacuum. CNP tests full- and half-face masks but not disposables. It has no contamination issues so therefore low maintenance and cost of ownership. The CNP method offers reduced contact, is the easiest to sanitise between tests and has seen a recent surge in popularity, especially during the COVID pandemic.
APC requires specific indoor test conditions as the instrument counts the number of particles inside the mask, compared to the number of particles external to the mask. If there is not enough particulate in the air, the tester will introduce artificial particulate through the use of salt fog or lit candles or wicks. APC is suitable for testing full- and half-face masks as well as disposables. It incurs a certain level of maintenance due to contamination and also cost of ownership due to consumables.
How much does a Fit Test cost?
The cost of a fit test will depend on the type of fit testing method used and whether a trained fit testing professional is hired to provide fit tests on behalf of the employer. It is more cost-effective to engage the services of a fit tester to test employees in bulk where possible.
Safety Group offer a number of solutions to Face Fit Testing. Get in touch for further information.