fit test procedures

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# Personal Protective Equipment (cont.) I Personal Protective Equipment Division 2 AO 2-2023 Oregon Administrative Rules Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (2) A record of the test shall be kept on file, assuming the fit test was successful. The record must contain the test subject's name; overall fit factor; make, model, style and size of respirator used; and date tested. 7. Controlled negative pressure (CNP) REDON quantitative fit testing protocol. (a) When administering this protocol to test subjects, employers must comply with the requirements specified in paragraphs (a) and (c) of Part I.C.6 of this appendix ("Controlled negative pressure (CNP) quantitative fit testing protocol"), as well as use the test exercises described below in paragraph (b) of this protocol instead of the test exercises specified in paragraph (b) of Part I.C.6 of this appendix. (b) Employers must ensure that each test subject being fit tested using this protocol follows the exercise and measurement procedures, including the order of administration, described below in Table A-3 of this appendix. Table A-3 - CNP REDON Quantitative Fit Testing Protocol <table><tr><th>Exercises¹</th><th>Exercise procedure</th><th>Measurement procedure</th></tr><tr><td>Facing Forward</td><td>Stand and breathe normally, without talking, for 30 seconds.</td><td>Face forward, while holding breath for 10 seconds.</td></tr><tr><td>Bending Over</td><td>Bend at the waist, as if going to touch his or her toes, for 30 seconds.</td><td>Face parallel to the floor, while holding breath for 10 seconds</td></tr><tr><td>Head Shaking</td><td>For about three seconds, shake head back and forth vigorously several times while shouting.</td><td>Face forward, while holding breath for 10 seconds.</td></tr><tr><td>Redon-1</td><td>Remove the respirator mask, loosen all facepiece straps, and then redon the respirator mask.</td><td>Face forward, while holding breath for 10 seconds.</td></tr><tr><td>Redon-2</…

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# Personal Protective Equipment (cont.) ## Part II. New Fit Test Protocols (cont.) Personal Protective Equipment I Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division Oregon Administrative Rules AO 2-2023 Division 2 # Appendix B-1 to 1910.134 - User Seal Check Procedures (Mandatory) The individual who uses a tight-fitting respirator is to perform a user seal check to ensure that an adequate seal is achieved each time the respirator is put on. Either the positive and negative pressure checks listed in this appendix, or the respirator manufacturer's recommended user seal check method shall be used. User seal checks are not substitutes for qualitative or quantitative fit tests. I. Facepiece Positive and/or Negative Pressure Checks A. Positive pressure check. Close off the exhalation valve and exhale gently into the facepiece. The face fit is considered satisfactory if a slight positive pressure can be built up inside the facepiece without any evidence of outward leakage of air at the seal. For most respirators this method of leak testing requires the wearer to first remove the exhalation valve cover before closing off the exhalation valve and then carefully replacing it after the test. B. Negative pressure check. Close off the inlet opening of the canister or cartridge(s) by covering with the palm of the hand(s) or by replacing the filter seal(s), inhale gently so that the facepiece collapses slightly, and hold the breath for ten seconds. The design of the inlet opening of some cartridges cannot be effectively covered with the palm of the hand. The test can be performed by covering the inlet opening of the cartridge with a thin latex or nitrile glove. If the facepiece remains in its slightly collapsed condition and no inward leakage of air is detected, the tightness of the respirator is considered satisfactory. - II. Manufacturer's Recommended User Seal Check Procedures - The respirator manufacturer's recommended procedures for performing a user seal ch…

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# 1910.134 Appendix A Fit Testing Procedures (Mandatory). (cont.) ## B. Qualitative Fit Test (QLFT) Protocols (cont.) (4) The screening test shall be conducted in a room separate from the room used for actual fit testing. The two rooms shall be well-ventilated to prevent the odor of IAA from becoming evident in the general room air where testing takes place. (5) The odor test solution is prepared in a second jar by placing 0.4 ml of the stock solution into 500 ml of odor-free water using a clean dropper or pipette. The solution shall be shaken for 30 seconds and allowed to stand for two to three minutes so that the IAA concentration above the liquid may reach equilibrium. This solution shall be used for only one day. (6) A test blank shall be prepared in a third jar by adding 500 CC of odor-free water. (7) The odor test and test blank jar lids shall be labeled (e.g., 1 and 2) for jar identification. Labels shall be placed on the lids so that they can be peeled off periodically and switched to maintain the integrity of the test. (8) The following instruction shall be typed on a card and placed on the table in front of the two test jars (i.e., 1 and 2): "The purpose of this test is to determine if you can smell banana oil at a low concentration. The two bottles in front of you contain water. One of these bottles also contains a small amount of banana oil. Be sure the covers are on tight, then shake each bottle for two seconds. Unscrew the lid of each bottle, one at a time, and sniff at the mouth of the bottle. Indicate to the test conductor which bottle contains banana oil." (9) The mixtures used in the IAA odor detection test shall be prepared in an area separate from where the test is performed, in order to prevent olfactory fatigue in the subject. (10) If the test subject is unable to correctly identify the jar containing the odor test solution, the IAA qualitative fit test shall not be performed. (11) If the test subject correctly identifies the jar cont…

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# 1910.134 Appendix A Fit Testing Procedures (Mandatory). ## Part I. OSHA-Accepted Fit Test Protocols ## A. Fit Testing Procedures -- General Requirements - The employer shall conduct fit testing using the following procedures. The requirements in this appendix apply to all OSHA-accepted fit test methods, both QLFT and QNFT. 1. The test subject shall be allowed to pick the most acceptable respirator from a sufficient number of respirator models and sizes so that the respirator is acceptable to, and correctly fits, the user. 2. Prior to the selection process, the test subject shall be shown how to put on a respirator, how it should be positioned on the face, how to set strap tension and how to determine an acceptable fit. A mirror shall be available to assist the subject in evaluating the fit and positioning of the respirator. This instruction may not constitute the subject's formal training on respirator use, because it is only a review. 3. The test subject shall be informed that he/she is being asked to select the respirator that provides the most acceptable fit. Each respirator represents a different size and shape, and if fitted and used properly, will provide adequate protection. 4. The test subject shall be instructed to hold each chosen facepiece up to the face and eliminate those that obviously do not give an acceptable fit. 5. The more acceptable facepieces are noted in case the one selected proves unacceptable; the most comfortable mask is donned and worn at least five minutes to assess comfort. Assistance in assessing comfort can be given by discussing the points in the following item A.6. If the test subject is not familiar with using a particular respirator, the test subject shall be directed to don the mask several times and to adjust the straps each time to become adept at setting proper tension on the straps. 6. Assessment of comfort shall include a review of the following points with the test subject and allowing the test subject adequate ti…

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# 1910.134 Appendix A Fit Testing Procedures (Mandatory). (cont.) ## C. Quantitative Fit Test (QNFT) Protocols The following quantitative fit testing procedures have been demonstrated to be acceptable: Quantitative fit testing using a non-hazardous test aerosol (such as corn oil, polyethylene glycol 400 [PEG 400], di-2-ethyl hexyl sebacate [DEHS], or sodium chloride) generated in a test chamber, and employing instrumentation to quantify the fit of the respirator; Quantitative fit testing using ambient aerosol as the test agent and appropriate instrumentation (condensation nuclei counter) to quantify the respirator fit; Quantitative fit testing using controlled negative pressure and appropriate instrumentation to measure the volumetric leak rate of a facepiece to quantify the respirator fit. 1. General (a) The employer shall ensure that persons administering QNFT are able to calibrate equipment and perform tests properly, recognize invalid tests, calculate fit factors properly and ensure that test equipment is in proper working order. (b) The employer shall ensure that QNFT equipment is kept clean, and is maintained and calibrated according to the manufacturer's instructions so as to operate at the parameters for which it was designed. 2. Generated Aerosol Quantitative Fit Testing Protocol (a) Apparatus. (1) Instrumentation. Aerosol generation, dilution, and measurement systems using particulates (corn oil, polyethylene glycol 400 [PEG 400], di-2-ethyl hexyl sebacate [DEHS] or sodium chloride) as test aerosols shall be used for quantitative fit testing. (2) Test chamber. The test chamber shall be large enough to permit all test subjects to perform freely all required exercises without disturbing the test agent concentration or the measurement apparatus. The test chamber shall be equipped and constructed so that the test agent is effectively isolated from the ambient air, yet uniform in concentration throughout the chamber. (3) When testing air-purifying …

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# Personal Protective Equipment (cont.) I Personal Protective Equipment Division 2 AO 2-2023 Oregon Administrative Rules Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (f) Fit testing. This paragraph requires that, before an employee may be required to use any respirator with a negative or positive pressure tight-fitting facepiece, the employee must be fit tested with the same make, model, style, and size of respirator that will be used. This paragraph specifies the kinds of fit tests allowed, the procedures for conducting them, and how the results of the fit tests must be used. (1) The employer shall ensure that employees using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator pass an appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT) as stated in this paragraph. (2) The employer shall ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter. (3) The employer shall conduct an additional fit test whenever the employee reports, or the employer, PLHCP, supervisor, or program administrator makes visual observations of, changes in the employee's physical condition that could affect respirator fit. Such conditions include, but are not limited to, facial scarring, dental changes, cosmetic surgery, or an obvious change in body weight. (4) If after passing a QLFT or QNFT, the employee subsequently notifies the employer, program administrator, supervisor, or PLHCP that the fit of the respirator is unacceptable, the employee shall be given a reasonable opportunity to select a different respirator facepiece and to be retested. (5) The fit test shall be administered using an OSHA-accepted QLFT or QNFT protocol. The OSHA-accepted QLFT and QNFT protocols and procedures are contained in Appendix A of this section. (6) QLFT may only be used to fit test negative pressure air-purify…

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# Personal Protective Equipment (cont.) I Personal Protective Equipment Division 2 AO 2-2023 Oregon Administrative Rules Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (3) The test operator shall direct the stream of irritant smoke from the smoke tube toward the face seal area of the test subject, using the low flow pump or the squeeze bulb. The test operator shall begin at least 12 inches from the facepiece and move the smoke stream around the whole perimeter of the mask. The operator shall gradually make two more passes around the perimeter of the mask, moving to within 6 inches of the respirator. (4) If the person being tested has not had an involuntary response and/or detected the irritant smoke, proceed with the test exercises. (5) The exercises identified in section I.A.14. of this appendix shall be performed by the test subject while the respirator seal is being continually challenged by the smoke, directed around the perimeter of the respirator at a distance of 6 inches. (6) If the person being fit tested reports detecting the irritant smoke at any time, the test is failed. The person being retested must repeat the entire sensitivity check and fit test procedure. (7) Each test subject passing the irritant smoke test without evidence of a response (involuntary cough, irritation) shall be given a second sensitivity screening check, with the smoke from the same smoke tube used during the fit test, once the respirator has been removed, to determine whether he/she still reacts to the smoke. Failure to evoke a response shall void the fit test. (8) If a response is produced during this second sensitivity check, then the fit test is passed. C. Quantitative Fit Test (QNFT) Protocols - The following quantitative fit testing procedures have been demonstrated to be acceptable: Quantitative fit testing using a nonhazardous test aerosol (such as corn oil, polyethylene glycol 400 [PEG 400], di-2-ethyl hexyl sebacate [DEHS], or sodium chloride) gener…