Qualitative Face Fit Testing
Qualitative Face Fit Testing
Qualitative face fit testing is a legal requirement if your employees are working in potentially hazardous environments. Without it your employees are at risk of developing serious health issues.
Face Fit Testing ensures that any mask an employee is required to wear seals adequately to prevent the inhalation of any dangerous or hazardous particulates the wearer is exposed to.
It is recognised by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) as the only means of ensuring that a mask wearer is adequately protected through the use of respiratory protective equipment (RPE).
At Safety Forward we provide qualitative face fit testing carried out by our fully trained and competent assessors operating throughout the UK. Qualitative face fit testing is suitable for disposable half masks and reusable half mask respirators.
How does it work?
The process of fit testing ensures the tight-fitting mask forms a secure seal around the wearer’s face. This seal is essential to protecting the health of workers who could potentially come into contact with airborne hazards in their line of work.
If the seal is not complete it may allow harmful particles to enter the mask and make their way into the wearer’s respiratory system. This can have life-changing, and potentially deadly, consequences for the worker.
What does it involve?
The test itself is based on a Sacrum taste test, where a sweet Bittrex solution is pumped into a hood worn over the individuals head. A series of exercises are performed to ensure the seal does not break during normal movement ensuring employees are able to perform effectively and safely.
Carrying out the face fit testing does not replace checking for general wear and tear on the RPE and the wearer should still be checking their RPE before use. If the product begins showing signs of damage or deterioration it is to be replaced or, if possible, the component part is to be replaced.
Face fit laws
The Approved Codes of Practice supporting the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), Control of Lead at Work (CLaW), Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR), and the Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR), stipulate that fit testing should be carried out as part of the initial mask selection process. We are able to perform the qualitative face fit testing at your premises or site of your choice.
For more information on Qualitative Face Fit Testing please see our contact us panel below.
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