We do Fit testing for medical student’s, nursing, doctors, hospital staff, student’s, and paint booth technicians, painters, construction workers. EMS workers who wearing a tight fitting healthcare particulate respirator.
This is a taste test do not eat drink or chew gum for 15 min prior to exam. Conducted at our Bronx office only.
We do Fit Testing for Local hospitals, travel nursing, EMS, nursing care centers, medical schools, Nursing students and Graduate medical Programs.
Monroe College, BCC, BMCC, City College, CUNy, SUNY, College of Mt Saint Vincent, and many more.
WHAT IS A N95 RESPIRATOR FIT TEST?
OSHA Standard 1910.134 lays out that A respirator fit test determines if a tight-fitting respirator can be worn without having any leaks. It should take place after an employee has been medically cleared to wear a respirator and before the employee wears it on the job. A respirator fit test is required for all tight-fitting respirators. Employees must complete the fit test using a respirator that’s the same make, model, and size as one they will wear on the job while also wearing any other required equipment (e.g., glasses).
How often should i fit tested?
OSHA requires qualitative or quantitative fit testing before a user wears a mandatory respirator on the job, and must be assessed at least annually. In addition, fit tests should be performed:
- whenever a different size, style, model or make of respirator is used, and
- when any facial changes occur that could affect fit, such as significant weight fluctuation or dental work
- You should be clean-shaven for the test. Religious adaptation for sikh
Qualitative Fit Test (QLFT)
A qualitative fit test (QLFT) may only be used to fit-test:
- Negative-pressure, air-purifying respirators, as long as they’ll only be used in atmospheres where the hazard is at less than 10 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL).
- Tight-fitting facepieces used with powered and atmosphere-supplying respirators.
QLFT is pass/fail and relies on the user’s senses using one of four OSHA-accepted test agents:
- Isoamyl acetate (banana smell); only for testing respirators with organic vapor cartridges.
- Saccharin (sweet taste); can test respirators with a particulate filter of any class.
- Bitrex® (bitter taste); can also test respirators with particulate filters of any class.
- Irritant smoke (involuntary cough reflex); only for testing respirators with level 100 particulate filters.
Each QLFT method uses seven exercises performed for 1 minute each:
- Normal breathing.
- Deep breathing.
- Moving head side to side.
- Moving head up and down.
- Bending over (or jogging in place if fit test unit doesn’t permit bending at the waist).
- Talking.
- Normal breathing again.
Our site only performs qualitative fit test for employess as described above. any questions. Please call us.
A respirator fit test determines if a tight-fitting respirator can be worn without having any leaks. It should take place after an employee has been medically cleared to wear a respirator and before the employee wears it on the job. Employee’s must be medically cleared to wear a respirator prior to fit testing, you will have to have your primary care provider sign off on your forms before starting work on the job.
How much does it cost?
$50.00 per employee testing. $35.00 if you need a Online Medical Evaluation by 3M, this fee may be 0reimbursable by your employee or on your taxes as a job/school required expenses. This fee goes to the overhead and supplies for fit testing program.
If you Pass fit testing a Fit Test Certificate and/or Wallet Card will be provided to the student.
How does this test work?
We use 3M fit testing package for respirator fit testing. (pictured below)
Proof of Completion: Upon completion of test a certificate with wallet card is issued to the employee.
Respirators
- Halyard 46727
- 3M 8610 \ 8210 \ AURA
- KN95
- NIOSH 95 Mask
FAQ
Q: How can you help subjects remove the bitter taste from their mouths after the fit test?
A: The taste of denatonium Benzoate can be countered with chocolate. Many fit testers offer chocolate to subjects, but this should be done only after the entire fit test protocol is complete.
Q: Can we fit test non-3M respirators with a 3M fit test kit?
A: Yes, you can use 3M fit test kits to fit test non-3M respirators. The qualitative fit test protocol is specified by OSHA in 29 CFR 1910.134 Appendix A. 3M’s fit test kit components meet the requirements of that standard.
Therefore, it can be used to fit test any NIOSH-approved tight-fitting facepiece. You can also use non-3M fit test kits to fit test 3M respirators, as long as these fit test kits meet the specifications in OSHA’s fit test standard.
Q: What is a medical evaluation?
A: OSHA requires that employees be determined to be medically able to use a respirator before being fit tested. For reusable respirators, this is true for both mandatory and voluntary use situations. However, for voluntary use of disposable filtering face piece respirators, medical evaluations are not required. The employer must supply the medical evaluation at no cost to the employee. Many occupational health clinics offer this service. The evaluation must be performed by a PLHCP, as stated above. During the evaluation, the PLHCP must collect certain information from the employee, which is specified in 29 CFR 1910.134 Appendix C. Additionally, the employer must provide certain information regarding the employee’s work conditions to the PLHPC, which is specified in 29 CFR 1910.134(e)(5)(i). If deemed necessary by the PLHCP, a follow-up exam may be
scheduled.
The 3M™ Online Respirator Medical Evaluation provides immediate medical evaluation of respirator wearers for compliance with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard 29 CFR 1910.134. It can be used for all brands of respirators and is available in English and Spanish.
Q: Does the fit test subject need to be clean- shaven?
A: Per OSHA, employees wearing respirators must be clean-shaven, including during the fit test. No facial hair may be present that interferes with the respirator seal. Many companies and fit testers create policies regarding shaving for fit tests. For example, in order to hold a position where respirator use is required, an employee must come to work clean-shaven. Or if the work is predictable, the employee must be clean-shaven any day when a respirator will need to be worn – including fit testing.
3M does not support conducting qualitative or quantitative fit tests on people wearing negative-pressure respirators (half and full facepiece air-purifying respirators) or positive-pressure tight-fitting respirators with any facial hair that extends under the
respirator seal or interferes with valve function. For more information related to fit testing and facial hair, see 3M Technical Bulletin “Facial Hair and Respirator Fit Testing Policy”.
if you must wear face hair for religious reasons please read the attached article and come prepared to fit test as described in the article. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7532752/
Q: What is the difference between a fit test and a user seal check?
A: A fit test, conducted properly by a qualified fit tester, helps to verify that the selected
respirator can achieve an acceptable fit on a particular wearer’s face. It must be conducted at least annually or if the wearer’s face changes in a way that could impact the respirator’s ability to fit adequately. A user seal check is performed by the wearer each tor is donned, to
help the wearer confirm that the respirator is donned correctly and has sealed to the face.
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