Respiratory Fit Testing

Respirator fit testing is required in many fields of work. The most common field that requires the use of respirators is the construction industry.

Workers who are exposed to large amounts of contaminants such as dust, dirt, toxic chemicals, paint, lacquer, concrete dust. silica, mould, etc need to be protected.

Before workers can use a respirator, they must ensure it “fits”. A respirator can't protect you if it doesn't fit your face. A “fit test” tests the seal between the respirator's facepiece and face. It takes about fifteen minutes to complete and is performed at least annually.  If your respirator doesn't fit your face properly, contaminated air can leak into your respirator facepiece, and you could breathe in hazardous substances.

Remember, if it is identified in an audit that the work force are using or should be using respirators, this fitting and training is OH&S mandated.

We will be booking 4-5 people per hour for the fit testing. Each fit test is between 10-15 minutes. The fit testing will take place starting at 1:00pm and will end around 5:30. 

Note:  For fit testing, the supplier (Vallen) will bring enough masks and filters to properly test. Workers will also be given a breakdown of their mask and shown how to properly clean and maintain the unit. Vallen will default to 3M masks as they are the most common in the field and the primary supplier.  

However, upon request Vallen can provide Honeywell, MSA, etc. Workers will also receive a fit test certificate.  This is valid for the make, model and size of mask they were tested on.  Fit testing is valid for a maximum of 2 years, however it is at a company’s discretion to shorten that as a workers face can change with age and weight.

Vallen recommends fit testing once per year.

Workers are required to be clean shaven and are asked to shave the day of testing.