RESPIRATORY PROTECTION INFORMATION Workplace conditions such as temperature, humidity and work rate affect wearer comfort and the relevance of the different respirator features that are available. A respirator must allow you the freedom to communicate easily with colleagues and fit well with the rest of your safety equipment. Achieving a good fit is essential to the level of protection. A leaking respirator could be perceived as comfortable, but is not much better than using no respirator at all. Always select a respirator that meets the European Standard, is CE Marked and offers you the right level of comfort and protection and ensure that you fit it correctly. Assigned Protection Factors: The higher the factor, the greater the protection Checking that a respirator with a tight fitting facepiece provides an adequate seal to the wearer's face has long been considered best practice as part of a general Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) programme. Fit testing has been a mandatory requirement under the UK Asbestos Regulations and now, with the introduction of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) and the supporting Approved Codes of Practice, fit testing is an industry wide requirement. Respirators with tight fitting facepieces include disposable respirators, half masks and full face masks. Fit testing should be carried out: Fit testing should be repeated at appropriate times such as: Quantitative fit testing Quantitative fit tests give an objective measure of the quality of the seal between the wearer's face and the facepiece. Afit factor number is produced. These tests will usually be carried out by a consultant. For more information or advice contact your safety advisor. Qualitative fit testing Qualitative fit tests provide a pass or fail result based upon the wearer detecting a test agent. They provide a subjective measure of the quality of the seal of the facepiece to the wearer's face. These tests may be carried out by a suitably trained company Safety Advisor. Two main methods of fit testing are available: Many types of masks and respirators seem similar but there are significant differences in the use of materials, design technology and protection levels. Make sure you always use an approved respirator to protect your health. Nuisance Dust Masks vs. Disposable Respirators Nuisance Dust Masks and Gauze Pads do NOT meet the European Standard (EN149:2001) for respirators and are not CE marked so they don't have any of this information printed on the mask. They do not provide protection against fine lung damaging dusts and cannot be used as personal protective equipment. Disposable Respirators are typically white face masks with two straps and often an exhalation valve for improved comfort. They are also printed with 'EN149:2001', the 'CE' mark and they are designed to provide effective protection against fine respirable dusts, mists and metal fumes. Selecting a Respirator Nuisance Dust Masks Fit Testing • • On all wearers of RPE with fitting facepieces where fit testing has previously not been performed During initial selection RPE • • • If the RPE wearer significantly loses or gains weight, has major dental work or sustains a major facial injury If a different size or model of RPE is specified If specified by the company policy eg. repeated with annual health surveillance check Fit testing is an addition to the requirement to perform a pre-use fit check 234
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