Hints and Tips - Qualitative face fit testing.

If you have chosen breathing protection for your staff the next step is to test and verify that it is working effectively. Faces come in all shapes and sizes and correct adjustment of ppe can make all the difference in it's overall effectiveness. Qualitative testing uses an easily detectable safe substance (sweet or bitter) to check the face seal of half face gas masks. To describe it simply, the person under test places a special bag over their head, substance is introduced to verify they can detect it, then they don their face mask, bag up and a stronger solution is introduced. A variety of movements are then carried out and a suggested set script read out by wearer. Failure to detect the substance means the mask is correctly adjusted. If the test is failed, adjustment of straps and retesting is carried out. 

So why do we test? The coshh regulations stipulate that fit testing should be carried out as part of the initial mask selection process, tests should also be carried out after any substantial change to the person. Failure to carry out suitable tests (and record them) could lead to exposure of staff to inhalation of harmful substances, potential ill health and legal consequences such as fines or imprisionment in the worst case.

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