Provisions are made to conduct additional fit tests in the event of physical changes in the employee that may affect respirator fit. Employees are given the opportunity to select a different respirator facepiece, and be retested, if their respirator fit is unacceptable to them. Fit tests are administered using OSHA-accepted QNFT or QLFT protocols. QLFT is only used to fit test negative pressure APRs that much achieve a fit factor of 100 or less. QNFT is achieved by modifying the facepiece to allow for sampling inside the mask midway between the nose and mouth.
Workers perform user seal checks prior to each use of a tight-fitting respirator.
There are procedures for conducting ongoing surveillance of the work area for conditions that affect respirator effectiveness and that when such conditions exist, you take steps to address those situations. Employees are permitted to leave their work area to conduct respirator maintenance, such as washing the facepiece or to replace respirator parts. Employees do not return to their work area until their respirator has been repaired or replaced in the event of breakthrough, a leak in the face piece, or a change in breathing resistance. Standby personnel are equipped with a pressure demand or other positive pressure SCBA or a positive pressure supplied air respirator with an escape SCBA, and appropriate retrieval equipment or other means for rescue. Respirator Maintenance and Care Cleaning and Disinfecting Respirators are provided that are clean, sanitary and in good working order.