Bump tests, also known as functional tests, protect you on the job by ensuring that your gas monitor will alert you to harmful levels of gas. In bump testing, the sensors in your gas detector are briefly exposed to a concentration of gas that is higher than the alarm’s set points. This test verifies that the sensors on your gas detector will respond and an alarm will go off as expected. It is important to note that bump testing does not check the accuracy of the gas reading—it just checks that the sensors and alarms are working. The only way to know that your gas detector works is by bump testing it before each shift. The easiest way to bump test your monitor is with a docking station. The docking station can automatically bump test your gas detector on a set schedule before each shift. This eliminates the time and hassle of manually bump testing your monitor. If a docking station is not available, you can also manually bump test with calibration gas. Whichever method you choose, commit to doing it every day.