At the same time, the study shows that shutting off the supply of Canadian labor would effectively bring the industry to a halt as not enough U.S. workers are interested in the jobs. This makes it all the more important to make sure that the U.S. workers do have the opportunity to compete fairly in terms of equipment rental and have the skills to take the high wage jobs in the industry. This is a comprehensive study, so we want to take the time needed to make sure we have reviewed all of the information and recommendations carefully. We look forward to aggressively evaluating the recommendations in partnership with the Maine Department of Labor to assess how these changes relate to existing law. Fit-testing ensures that respirators properly fit the users and is required by state and federal occupational safety and health standards.
Respirators protect users from airborne hazards such as smoke, chemicals, lead, dust, and asbestos.
Respirators must be used during certain activities typically performed in a variety of occupations, including firefighting, construction work, spray painting, and woodworking. Each firefighter, whether paid or volunteer, must be fit-tested before using a respirator. Quantitative fit-testing requires highly specialized equipment and is often performed by an outside contractor. With training, employers can do qualitative fit-testing themselves. Occupational health specialists from the Maine Department of Labor will present the class.