Why do you need it?
Under WHS law a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) must ensure the health and safety of workers and other persons at the workplace. When undertaking a risk management approach under the hierarchy of controls one option may be to provide personal protective equipment (PPE). It is the responsibility of any PCBU that provides PPE to ensure that the PPE is:
- selected to minimise the risk to health and safety and is suitable for the nature of the work and the hazard associated with the work and
- a suitable size and fit and reasonably comfortable for the worker who is to use or wear it.
Respiratory protective equipment is a type of PPE designed to protect the wearer:
- from airborne contaminants
- fumes
- asbestos
- hazardous chemicals and dust
- infectious substances
- from low levels of oxygen such as working in confined spaces
- during diving work.
Respirators come in different shapes and sizes, and a fit test is a process to confirm that every worker who uses a respirator is using one that fits their face to properly protect them.
Fit testing is conducted in accordance with AS/NZS 175:2009, which states that employers shall conduct respirator fit testing before the respirator is selected or used for the first time, at least annually, and whenever there is a change in the wearer’s facial characteristics (eg, gained or lost weight etc).
The gold standard is quantitative fit testing which uses specialised equipment to measure how much air leaks between the respirator and the wearer’s skin.
How does it work?
We use a Portacount Respirator Fit Testing System which measures particle leakage into the respirator. This can be conducted on close fitting full face respirators, half face respirators and disposable half face respirators.
Our health professionals will interpret fit test results and provide individual records for each respirator fit test per employee for the employer, as well as a fit test card to the employee as evidence of compliance with AS/NZS 1715:2009.
As part of the fit test process our health professionals will conduct one-on-one training on the correct fitting, adjustment, and inspection of the respirator. This includes instruction on the correct method for conducting a ‘fit check’ for close fitting respirators in accordance with AS/NZS 1715:2009.
Fit testing can be done on close fitting disposable masks, including consultation. Disposable masks used in the testing will need to be discarded after testing is completed.
We can perform fit tests on site to meet the OSHA 1910.134 Modified protocol. For onsite testing a small clean room with power supply and a desk is required to be provided by the company. Resile can provide an online booking system or a booking spreadsheet. A quantitative fit test takes approximately 20-30 minutes per respirator type.
Fit testing is generally booked in for groups of employees over a day or more, however fit tests are available at any time/shift/day for an additional charge. We also offer qualitative testing.
If you want to discuss this further or to arrange testing, email siteservices@resile.com.au.
FAQs
- employees must be clean shaven when fit testing is conducted – facial hair can come between the respirator and the skin preventing a proper fit.
- a full-face respirator fit test cannot be conducted while wearing eyewear such as prescription glasses (please contact us if this is required).
- employees must be fit tested wearing all the PPE they would require when wearing the respirator such as earmuffs and safety glasses/goggles to ensure they don’t interfere with the respirator fit.
- employees must not smoke or vape for 30 minutes prior to the fit test as this will interfere with the fit test result.
- Sunstrom SR90 / SR100 / SR900 / SR200
- Moldex 7000 Half face
- 3M 6000 & 7500
Please talk to us if you have another respirator, depending on numbers we will be happy to purchase adaptors for your needs.
