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What is Fit re-testing requirements in British Colombia?

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In British Columbia, the regulatory requirements for respirator fit re-testing, as outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, mandate that a fit test must be conducted: (a) before the initial use of a respirator, (b) at least once a year, (c) whenever there is a change in respirator facepiece, including the brand, model, and size, and (d) whenever changes to the user's physical condition could affect the respirator fit. These tests must be performed in accordance with the procedures outlined in CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94\.4-02, Selection, Use, and Care of Respirators. [2] [2]

Additionally, before each use of a respirator that requires an effective face seal, a worker must perform a positive or negative pressure user seal check, as per CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94\.4-02, Selection, Use, and Care of Respirators. [1]

2 source record(s)

Sources used for this answer

[1] Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (B.C. Reg. 296/97)

Page 194

Open source document

Source excerpt

# Part 8 - Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment (cont.) ## Respirable air quality (cont.) B.C. Reg. 296/97 WORKERS COMPENSATION ACT # OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATION # Part 8 - Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment compressed breathing air that meets the requirements of CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z180.1-0 Compressed Breathing Air and Systems. [en. B.C. Reg. 20/2006, S. 3.] ## Corrective eyewear - 8.38 (1) If a worker who wears prescription eyeglasses is required to wear a full facepiece respirator, the employer must assess the work to be performed, and provide appropriate specialty corrective eyewear if necessary to ensure that the work can be performed safely. (2) The employer may permit the use of contact lenses by a worker who is required to wear a full facepiece respirator if their use is not likely to adversely affect the health or safety of the worker. ## Face seal - 8.39 (1) Except for specialty eyewear approved by the Board for use with positive pressure full facepiece respirators, nothing is permitted which intrudes between the facepiece and the face, or which interferes with the face seal of the facepiece. (2) A worker required to wear a respirator which requires an effective seal with the face for proper functioning must be clean shaven where the respirator seals with the face. ## Fit tests - 8.40 (1) A respirator which requires an effective seal with the face for proper functioning must not be issued to a worker unless a fit test demonstrates that the facepiece forms an effective seal with the wearer's face. (2) Fit tests must be performed in accordance with procedures in CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94.4-02, Selection, Use, and Care of Respirators. (2.1) A fit test must be carried out (a) before initial use of a respirator, (b) at least once a year, (c) whenever there is a change in respirator facepiece, including the brand, model, and size, and (d) whenever changes to the user's physical condition could affe

[2] Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (B.C. Reg. 296/97)

Page 195

Open source document

Source excerpt

# Part 8 - Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment (cont.) ## Fit tests (cont.) WORKERS COMPENSATION ACT B.C. Reg. 296/97 # OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATION Part 8 - Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment User seal check - 8.41 (1) Before each use of a respirator which requires an effective seal with the face for proper functioning, a worker must perform a positive or negative pressure user seal check in accordance with CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94.4-02, Selection, Use, and Care of Respirators. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the emergency use of an escape respirator. [am. B.C. Reg. 20/2006, S. 5.] ## Medical assessment 8.42 If a worker is required to use a respirator and there is doubt about the worker's ability to use a respirator for medical reasons, the worker must be examined by a physician, and the examining physician must be provided with sufficient information to allow the physician to advise the employer of the ability of the worker to wear a respirator. ## Optional use 8.43 In circumstances where section 8.32 does not apply, and either an employer chooses to provide a respirator to a worker or the worker chooses to use a personal respirator, then the requirements of sections 8.3, 8.7 and 8.33 (2) apply. ## Records - 8.44 The employer must maintain a record of (a) fit test results and worker instruction, (b) maintenance for air supplying respirators, powered air purifying respirators, and for sorbent cartridges and canisters, and (c) maintenance and repairs for each self-contained breathing apparatus and all air cylinders in accordance with the requirements of CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94.4-02, Selection, Use, and Care of Respirators. [am. B.C. Reg. 20/2006, S. 6.] ## Maintenance and inspections - 8.45 (1) Inspection of compressed air cylinders must be done in accordance with CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94.4-02, Selection, Use, and Care of Respirators. (2) Self-contained breathing apparatus, including regulators, must be s

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