What is a respirator fit test.?

Question

am scheduled to take one, but i have no idea what it is. Is it some kind of cardio test on a treadmill or what? Any help is greatly apreciated.

Answer 1

You don't have to worry at all read the article given below:


Respirator Fit-Testing Procedures



The fit-test will not be conducted on employees if they have any hair growth between the skin and the facepiece sealing surface, such as stubble beard growth, beard, mustache or sideburns which cross the respirator sealing surface. NO EXCEPTIONS!


Prior to Fit-Test



1. Show employee how to put on respirator, how to position the respirator on their face, how to set the strap tension and how to determine an acceptable fit. Provide a mirror so that employee can evaluate fit and respirator position.



2. Inform the employee that he/she is being asked to select the respirator that provides the most acceptable fit. Employees should be instructed to let us know if the respirator fit is unacceptable.



3. Allow the employee wear the respirator for at least 5 minutes to assess comfort prior to fit-testing.



4. Assess the comfort of the respirator by reviewing the following with the employee:

· Position of the mask on the nose

· Room for eye protection

· Room to talk

· Position of mask on face and cheeks



5. Assess the fit of the respirator by observing the following:

· Chin properly placed

· Adequate strap tension, not overly tightened

· Fit across nose bridge

· Respirator proper size to span distance between nose to chin

· Tendency of respirator to slip

· Employee observation of respirator fit in mirror



6. Have employee “seat” the respirator on their face. This is done by moving the head from side to side and up and down slowly while taking a few slow deep breaths.



7. Have employee conduct a user seal check.



Positive Pressure Check. Close off exhalation valve and exhale gently into the facepiece. Fit is acceptable if a slight positive pressure can be built up inside the facepiece without any evidence of outward leakage at the seal.



Negative Pressure Check. Close off the inlet opening of the cartridges by covering with the palm of the hands (if hands cannot cover cartridges use latex or nitrile glove to cover), inhale gently so that the facepiece collapses slightly, and hold breath for 10 seconds. Fit is acceptable if the facepiece remains in its slightly collapsed condition and no inward leakage of air is detected.



8. Refer employee to EOHS if he/she experiences any difficulty in breathing during the test.





Fit-Testing Procedures



Quantitative-Portacount



1. Set up test equipment as outlined in the Portacount Manual. Conduct daily checks to insure Portacount is working. Attach Portacount sampling device to respirator (an adapter is available for MSA respirators, other respirators will have to be fit-tested with irritant smoke). Attach HEPA filters to respirator.



2. Have employee put on respirator and perform fit-checks. Note: The sampling line from the Portacount should be crimped closed in order to avoid air pressure leakage during fit-checks. The respirator should be worn for 5 minutes prior to the fit-test.



3. Perform a screening fit-test (real time) while you explain the following:

· What the screening test is for

· What the fit-test procedures are and how long they take

· What the Fit Factor is

· What Fit Factor is required for their mask



4. If screening test shows a good fit, begin the fit-test exercises. These will include

· Normal Breathing

· Deep Breathing

· Turning Head Side to Side

· Moving Head Up and Down

· Talking (Rainbow Passage)

· Grimace

· Bending Over

· Normal Breathing



Each test will be conducted for 1 minute with the exception of the grimace which is 15 seconds.



5. The Portacount will calculate the Fit Factor for each exercise and the overall Fit-Factor. A minimum fit factor of 100 is required for a half-face respirator and dust mask and a minimum fit factor of 500 is required for a full-face respirator.



6. Once the test is completed, fill out the Fit-Test Form and have the employee sign the form.















Qualitative-Irritant Smoke



This test will be conducted in the IH Lab with the chemical fume hood on. No test enclosure or hood is to be used.



Stannic chloride tubes and a squeeze bulb will be used for this test. After breaking off both ends of the tube, place one end in the squeeze bulb and cover the other end with a short piece of tubing to prevent injury from the jagged edge of the tube.



1. Conduct a sensitivity screening test. This should be done with the same tube used for fit-testing. Instruct employee to keep eyes closed. Blow a very small amount of smoke in the direction of the employee to determine if they can detect it. If they cannot, another form of fit-test must be performed. If they can detect it, proceed with fit-test.



2. Have employee perform fit-checks.



3. Instruct employee to keep their eyes closed during the test.



4. Blow irritant smoke around the respirator, at least 12 inches from the face. If the employee detects the smoke, stop the test and re-fit the respirator.



5. If the employee does not detect the smoke, proceed with the fit-test exercises. The smoke should be directed around the mask at a distance of 6 inches. These will include

· Normal Breathing

· Deep Breathing

· Turning Head Side to Side

· Moving Head Up and Down

· Talking (Rainbow Passage)

· Bending Over

· Normal Breathing



Each test will be conducted for 1 minute.



6. If the employee detects smoke during the test, stop immediately and have them adjust their respirator in another area.



7. If the employee does not detect smoke during the fit-test, have them remove their respirator in a smoke-free area and conduct another sensitivity test with the same smoke tube. If they detect the smoke during the sensitivity test, they have passed the fit-test. If they do not detect smoke during the sensitivity test, they have failed.

Answer 2

It is a test designed on your ability to wear a mask against certain fumes, gases, smoke and odors. It can sometimes be used to also check your lung capacity. If you have a beard, they may either require you to shave for a better fit or they may require you to carry a mask or respirator,that fits the bearded area of your face.

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Answer 3

It means you will be "fitted" for a respirator mask. These are masks that are fitted to the shape of your particular face and you are the only one that can wear it and get a correct seal. It is not any kind of test you perform.

Answer 4

agree with above, they put a hood over your head, with a mask over your nose and mouth, spray in some sweet stuff, have you talk and see if you can taste the sweet stuff. Important to find out if regular masks will protect you properly against airborne illnesses. Like TB, Sars, Meningitis, etc. Most hospital workers take them yearly