RPE: Fitting solutions
February 1st 2006 In addition to the primary objective of safeguarding employees' respiratory health, a managed and regular Fit Testing Programme can deliver other benefits. Ralph Deter of Bacou-Dalloz explains We receive many calls from companies asking for advice on Fit Testing and guidance on suitable product solutions.
One of the key issues for employers - and employees using disposable respirators - is how to get an acceptable fit from what are generally 'universal' products.
It is in response to this that one of the most significant changes in disposable respirators has come about and that is in the supply of multiple sizes. There is now much greater demand for our three different sized Willson disposable respirators, a good indicator that Fit Testing is being implemented across the UK.
The use of respiratory protective equipment should only be considered as a last resort when all other control measures are not possible. The respirator is the last line of defence against contamination. It has an important job to do and it is imperative to get it right.
The fundamental concept of a respirator has always been to protect the wearer by keeping contamination outside the device. This is achieved by the protective device making a seal against the face which only allows air to be inhaled through the filter material. The filter material is selected on the basis of the protection factor required against the contaminants that are present.
The integrity of the system is very much reliant on the effectiveness of the seal against the face. If this seal is not maintained, contamination will be inhaled and the risk of exposure has been realised. To make matters worse, the employee may not know the seal has been breached, so he carries on working, not realising that he is no longer being protected from the contaminated atmosphere.
It is therefore essential that the selected respirator should fit the wearer properly. It is easy to see how difficult this is to achieve. Just look at the different face shapes and sizes of the people around you. To carry out Fit Testing with a one-size-fits-all mask would be about as successful and as responsible as providing all employees with a safety shoe in size 8 on the basis that it is about the average shoe size.
Many companies are concerned at the costs - both in terms of time and money - involved in Fit Testing. Some feel that 'we don't use many masks so it's not a concern'.
That is simply not the case. Whether a company is issuing one mask to a single employee or 5000 masks on a daily basis, they are both, in the eyes of the law, operating a Respiratory Protection Programme. This needs to be fully compliant with UK legislation.
Basically there are two types of Fit Test available:
Quantitative Fit Testing. This involves a probe being inserted inside the mask during the test and the air it meets is continuously sampled and analysed by computer.
This is done while the wearer undertakes various physical exercises to simulate the conditions of an active worker.
The computer will count any contaminated particles that have gained entry to the respirator. This is an efficient system as it will record and store all data for future reference. However, it is not easily portable and so not practical for many companies and industry sectors.
Qualitative Fit Testing. This system tests the integrity of the face seal by using the test subject's ability to taste a solution of Bitrex. As individual sensitivity to taste varies, the test is in two parts. In Part One, the subject is exposed to a very weak solution of Bitrex to clarify his or her ability to taste it. In Part Two, the test subject wears the respirator while being exposed to Bitrex and a series of exercises is undertaken to simulate the conditions experienced by a physically active worker.
The kit is popular in industry as it is relatively low cost, portable, and can be used anywhere - on or off site. It is advisable to have a number of people trained in the Bitrex system so that they can cover different shifts or departments. For employers, having their own Fit Test equipment and trained operatives means new employees can be tested quickly and repeat testing can be carried out as and when required.
A managed and regular Fit Testing programme delivers other benefits such as improved compliance and user wear-time. This is achieved because often, for the first time, the employee has had one-to-one training on the use of his respirator and, while being Fit Tested, was instructed in the correct fitting of the respirator. During the test, the wearer is able to raise any concerns that he/she may have. The wearer is given a practical demonstration on what inward leakage means and the signs to look out for.
Having been Fit Tested, most employees feel actively involved in their company's Respiratory Protection Programme and understand the necessity of wearing a mask, rather than simply being forced to do it by the health and safety manager.
With each employee having a specified type and size of mask, the need for self-selection and the resulting frequent change of respirator while trying to find one with a more comfortable or better fit is eliminated. This reduces the amount of wasted 'universal' disposable respirators as employees discard those that simply don't fit.
While the prospect of implementing a Fit Test programme may seem daunting, most organisations find it simple to establish and operate - with a little support from their ppe supplier.
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