Fit Testing Procedure - General Requirements

1. Show employee the proper way to don a respirator, proper positioning, strap tension, and determining if there is an acceptable fit.

2. Let employee select the respirator they want from a variety of models and sizes.

a. Tell employee they are being allowed to select their own respirator in order to get a good and comfortable fit.

b. Tell employee to place different masks of different sizes to their face in order to find a mask that has a good fit.

A. When assessing comfort, ask about:
a. Position on the nose

b. Room for eye protection (have them put on eye protection)

c. Room to talk

d. Position on face and cheeks

a. Chin placement

b. Strap tension

c. Fit across nose bridge

d. Size of mask - goes from nose to chin

e. Look in mirror for self-observation

A. Positive pressure check
a. Close off the exhalation valve

b. Exhale gently into facepiece.

B. Negative pressure check
a. Close off inlet opening of canister or cartridge by covering with palm of hand, or by replacing the filter seals

b. Inhale gently until facepiece collapses slightly

a. Normal breathing - 1 minute

b. Deep breathing - 1 minute (slow deep breaths in order not to hyperventilate)

c. Turn head from side to side - inhale at each side - 1 minute

d. Move head up an down - inhale in the up position - 1 minute

e. Talk - Read prepared text, count backward from 100 or recite a memorized poem

f. Bend over - at waist, pretend touching toes, or jogging in place - 1 minute

g. Normal breathing - 1 minute

Bitrex Solution Qualitative Fit Test Procedure

1. Taste threshold screening

a. Performed without wearing a respirator

b. Have employee put fit test hood on

c. Have employee breathe through mouth with tongue extended

d. Spray threshold check solution into the hood - ten rapid squeezes, fully pressing on bulb and letting it completely expand

e. If employee tastes the Bitrex, record number of squeezes (ten no matter how many actually squeezed)

f. If employee does not taste Bitrex, add ten more squeezes of Bitrex.

g. If employee now tastes the Bitrex, record number of squeezes (twenty no matter how many actually squeezed)

h. Continue until reach 30 squeezes, if employee cannot taste the Bitrex, they have no sensitivity to it, therefore cannot be fit tested with it, dismiss employee until can fit test with different solution

i. Have employee remember the taste for reference during the fit test

a. Insure employee has not eaten, drank, chewed gum, or smoked for at least 15 minutes before the test

b. Have employee don respirator and hood

c. Have employee breathe through mouth with tongue extended

d. Inform employee to notify you if the taste of Bitrex is detected

e. Squeeze Bitrex into hood using same number of squeezes necessary during taste threshold screening

f. Have employee perform the following exercises:

1. Normal breathing - 1 minute

2. Deep breathing - 1 minute (slow deep breaths in order not to hyperventilate)

3. Turn head from side to side - inhale at each side - 1 minute

4. Move head up an down - inhale in the up position - 1 minute

5. Talk - Read prepared text, count backward from 100 or recite a memorized poem

6. Bend over - at waist, pretend touching toes, or jogging in place - 1 minute

7. Normal breathing - 1 minute

g. Replenish aerosol every 30 seconds with half the number of squeezes necessary during the threshold screening (5, 10, 15)

h. If employee does not report the taste of Bitrex, the test is passed.

i. If the taste of Bitrex is detected, the test is failed and the employee must start over (threshold screening AND fit testing) with a new respirator