Fit Testing
Fit testing is required for employees wearing half-facepiece
APRs for exposure to asbestos during class III and IV asbestos
work. Employees voluntarily wearing half-facepiece APRs may also
be fit tested upon request.
Employees who are required to wear half-facepiece APRs will be
fit tested:
- Prior to being allowed to wear any respirator with a tight
fitting facepiece.
- Annually.
- When there are changes in the employee's physical conditions
that could affect respiratory fit (e.g., obvious change in body
weight, facial scarring, etc.)
Employees will be fit tested with the make, model, and size of
respirator that they will actually wear. Employees will be provided
with several models and sizes of respirators so that they may
find one that passes the fit test. Fit testing of PAPRs is to
be conducted in the negative pressure mode.
Fit tests will be conducted following the OSHA approved irritant
smoke protocol in Appendix B (B5) of the Respiratory Protection
standard. The Program Administrator has determined that quantitative
fit testing is not required for the respirators used under current
conditions at MTU. If conditions change, the Program Administrator
will evaluate on a case-by-case basis whether quantitative fit
testing is require.
