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Respirator Fit Testing Requirements

What's Required

29 CFR 1910.134(f) and WAC 296-842 states, "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 statement is noteworthy because it mandates that tight-fitting positive pressure facepieces such as those used in PAPRs and airline respirators be fit tested. The statement also includes disposable particulate respirators.

Two methods are acceptable for fit testing a tight-fitting positive pressure mask:

1. The mask can be converted into a negative pressure respirator and equipped with filters appropriate to the fit test protocol being followed, or
2. An identical negative pressure respirator can be used as a surrogate for fit testing as long as it has the same sealing surfaces as the positive pressure respirator.

Fit Testing Procedures

Within the standard, employers are required to perform either quantitative or qualitative fit test.

Prior to fit testing, an employee must complete a medical evaluation questionnaire and it must be reviewed by a PLHCP (physician or other licensed healthcare professional). The employee must present the appropriate medical clearance form and be clean shaven with no facial hair of any type, intruding on the sealing surfaces of the face piece.

A fit factor (FF) is determined during a quantitative fit test (QNFT). A FF is "a quantitative estimate of the fit of a particular respirator to a specific individual, and typically estimates the ratio of the concentration of a substance in ambient air to its concentration inside the respirator when worn."

A QNFT means "an assessment of the adequacy of respirator fit by numerically measuring the amount of leakage into the respirator."

Frequency – Minimum – Annually

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2) and WAC 296-842 states, "The employer shall ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter." In addition, fit testing must be repeated "whenever the employee reports, or the employer, PLHCP, supervisor, or program administrator makes visual observations of changes in the employee's physical condition that could affect respirator fit. Such conditions include, but are not limited to, facial scarring, dental changes, cosmetic surgery, or an obvious change in body weight."

Also, an employee who has passed a fit test but later finds the fit of the respirator unacceptable must be given a reasonable opportunity to select a new facepiece and be retested.

Recordkeeping

The employer is responsible for record maintaining of the fit testing. As stated under 29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2), the following information must be recorded: The name of the employee; the type of test performed (QLFT or QNFT); specific respirator tested; date of the test; and the results of the test. This information must be retained until the next fit test is administered.