List all the steps for how a Qualitative Respiratory Fit Test is completed.

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# QUALITATIVE RESPIRATOR FIT TEST REPORT * It is the responsibility of the employer to follow and comply with requirements for the written program, medical clearances, fit testing and training following 29CFR1910.134 (including appendix A and B1). It also is the responsibility of the employer to follow the recommendations of the manufacture of the respirator and fit testing kits. Employer: Subject's Name: [redacted identifier] evaluation current: Respirator make: Model: Mask Size: OS OM OL Cartridge type: Test Agent: Irritant smoke O Saccharin O Banana oil 10 Bitrex Sensitivity check: Irritant smoke O Banana oil 10 Bitrex squeezes 1 Saccharin squeezes (Bitrex/Saccharin ...no eating/smoking/drink 15 min prior to test) Fitting: Positive pressure seal check 10 Negative pressure seal check Appropriate PPE worn during the fit test procedure: ● The mask will be worn for 5 min. prior to the test: Facial hair cannot cross the seal of the facepiece: 10 Exercises: All exercises are 1 minute each - Normal breathing ● Deep breathing - 1 Turning head side to side - Moving head up and down ● Talking/counting reciting - Bending over or jogging - Normal breathing O Pass OFail Subject's signature: Date: Tester's signature: Date:

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# Quantitative Respirator Fit Test (QNFT) (cont.) ## Qualitative Respirator Fit Test (QLFT) Protocols (cont.) - General Requirements - Persons administering QLFT must be able to prepare test solutions, calibrate equipment and perform tests properly, recognize invalid tests, and ensure that test equipment is in proper working order. - QLFT equipment will be kept clean and well maintained so as to operate within the parameters for which it was designed. - The test will be performed using the respirator which was determined to be the most effective during the last quantitative fit test. Isoamyl acetate will be the test agent used. Individuals must be tested to ensure that they can detect isoamyl acetate. It may be necessary to use the Bitrex test, when an individual cannot detect isoamyl acetate. • Isoamyl Acetate Protocol Note: This protocol is not appropriate to use for the fit testing of particulate respirators. If used to fit test particulate respirators, the respirator must be equipped with an organic vapor filter. • Odor Threshold Screening - Odor threshold screening, performed without wearing a respirator, is intended to determine if the individual tested can detect the odor of isoamyl acetate at low levels. - Three 1-liter glass jars with metal lids are required. - Odor-free water (e.g., distilled or spring water) at approximately 25° C (77° F) will be used for the solutions. - The isoamyl acetate (IAA) (also known as isopentyl acetate) stock solution is prepared by adding 1 ml of pure IAA to 800 ml of odor-free water in a I liter jar, closing the lid and shaking for 30 seconds. A new solution will be prepared at least weekly. - The screening test will be conducted in a room separate from the room used for actual fit testing. The two rooms will be well-ventilated to prevent the odor of the IAA from becoming evident in the general room air where testing takes place. - The odor test solution is prepared in a second jar by placing 0.4 ml…

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# Appendix A to Section 5144: Fit Testing Procedures (Mandatory) (cont.) ## Rainbow Passage (cont.) properties of the smoke. The test operator shall carefully direct a small amount of the irritant smoke in the test subject's direction to determine that he/she can detect it. (c) Irritant Smoke Fit Test Procedure (1) The person being fit tested shall don the respirator without assistance, and perform the required user seal check(s). (2) The test subject shall be instructed to keep his/her eyes closed. (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 six 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 six 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,…

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# Part I. OSHA-Accepted Fit Test Protocols (cont.) (3) Turning head side to side. Standing in place, the subject shall slowly turn his/her head from side to side between the extreme positions on each side. The head shall be held at each extreme momentarily so the subject can inhale at each side. (4) Moving head up and down. Standing in place, the subject shall slowly move his/her head up and down. The subject shall be instructed to inhale in the up position (i.e., when looking toward the ceiling). (5) Talking. The subject shall talk out loud slowly and loud enough so as to be heard clearly by the test conductor. The subject can read from a prepared text such as the Rainbow Passage, count backward from 100, or recite a memorized poem or song. ## Rainbow Passage - When the sunlight strikes raindrops in the air, they act like a prism and form a rainbow. The rainbow is a division of white light into many beautiful colors. These take the shape of a long round arch, with its path high above, and its two ends apparently beyond the horizon. There is, according to legend, a boiling pot of gold at one end. People look, but no one ever finds it. When a man looks for something beyond reach, his friends say he is looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. (6) Grimace. The test subject shall grimace by smiling or frowning. (This applies only to QNFT testing; it is not performed for QLFT) (7) Bending over. The test subject shall bend at the waist as if he/she were to touch his/her toes. Jogging in place shall be substituted for this exercise in those test environments such as shroud type QNFT or QLFT units that do not permit bending over at the waist. (8) Normal breathing. Same as exercise (1). (b) Each test exercise shall be performed for one minute except for the grimace exercise which shall be performed for 15 seconds. The test subject shall be questioned by the test conductor regarding the comfort of the respirator upon completion of the protocol. If it ha…

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# Quantitative Respirator Fit Test (QNFT) (cont.) ## Qualitative Respirator Fit Test (QLFT) Protocols (cont.) - Allow two minutes for the IAA test concentration to stabilize before starting the fit test exercises. This would be an appropriate time to talk with the CSHO; to explain the fit test, the importance of his/her cooperation, and the purpose for the test exercises; or to demonstrate some of the exercises. - If at any time during the test, the subject detects the banana-like odor of IAA, the test is failed. The CSHO will quickly exit from the test chamber and leave the test area to avoid olfactory fatigue. - If the test is failed, the CSHO will return to the selection room and remove the respirator. The CSHO will repeat the odor sensitivity test, select and put on another respirator, return to the test area and begin the fit test procedure described above. The process continues until a respirator that fits well has been found. Should the odor sensitivity test be failed, the subject will wait at least 5 minutes before retesting. Odor sensitivity will usually have returned by this time. - If the CSHO passes the test, the efficiency of the test procedure will be demonstrated by having the CSHO break the respirator face seal and take a breath before exiting the chamber. - When the CSHO leaves the chamber, he/she will remove the saturated towel and return it to the person conducting the test, so that there is no significant IAA concentration build-up in the chamber during subsequent tests. The used towels will be kept in a self-sealing plastic bag to keep the test area from being contaminated. - Bitrex (Denatonium Benzoate) Solution Aerosol Qualitative Fit Test Protocol TM - The BitrexTM (Denatonium benzoate) solution aerosol QLFT protocol uses the published saccharin test protocol because that protocol is widely accepted. Bitrex is routinely used as a taste aversion agent in household liquids which children should not be drinking and is endorsed by th…

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# Quantitative Respirator Fit Test (QNFT) (cont.) Following the manufacturer's instructions for operating the Portacount, proceed with the test. - The CSHO will be instructed to perform the test exercises. - After the test exercises, the CSHO will be questioned by the test conductor regarding the comfort of the respirator upon completion of the protocol. If it has become unacceptable, another model of respirator will be tried. - Portacount Test Instrument - The Portacount will automatically stop and calculate the overall fit factor for the entire set of exercises. The overall fit factor is what counts. The Pass or Fail message will indicate whether or not the test was successful. If the test was a Pass, the fit test is over. - Since the pass or fail criterion of the Portacount is user programmable, the test operator should ensure that the pass or fail criterion meets the requirements for minimum respirator performance. - A record of the test needs to be kept on file in the Regional/Field office, assuming the fit test was successful. The record must contain the CSHO's name; overall fit factor; make, model, style, and size of the respirator used; and the date tested. ## Qualitative Respirator Fit Test (QLFT) Protocols "Qualitative Fit Test" means a pass/fail test to assess the adequacy of respirator fit that relies on the individual's response to the test agent. QLFT may only be used to fit test negative pressure air-purifying respirators that must achieve a fit factor of 100 or less. Dividing the fit factor of 100 by a standard safety factor of 10 indicates that the negative pressure air-purifying respirators that have successfully completed a qualitative fit test can be relied on to reduce CSHO's exposure by a protection factor of 10. The safety factor of 10 is used because protection factors that CSHOS receive at work sites tend to be much lower that the fit factors achieved during fit testing. In practice, this means that any negative pressure air-p…

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# Appendix A to Section 5144: Fit Testing Procedures (Mandatory) (cont.) ## Effective: June 24, 2024 Part I. OSHA-Accepted Fit Test Protocols (cont.) appendix for filtering facepiece respirators. Employers shall ensure that the test subjects (i.e. employees) perform the exercise procedure specified in section I.C.6(b) of this appendix for the CNP quantitative fit- testing protocol, or the exercise procedure described in section I.C.7(b) of this appendix for the CNP REDON quantitative fit-testing protocol. For the remaining fit testing methods, employers shall ensure that the test exercises are performed in the appropriate test environment in the following manner: (1) Normal breathing. In a normal standing position, without talking, the subject shall breathe normally. (2) Deep breathing. In a normal standing position, the subject shall breathe slowly and deeply, taking caution so as not to hyperventilate. (3) Turning head side to side. Standing in place, the subject shall slowly turn his/her head from side to side between the extreme positions on each side. The head shall be held at each extreme momentarily so the subject can inhale at each side. (4) Moving head up and down. Standing in place, the subject shall slowly move his/her head up and down. The subject shall be instructed to inhale in the up position (i.e., when looking toward the ceiling). (5) Talking. The subject shall talk out loud slowly and loud enough so as to be heard clearly by the test conductor. The subject can read from a prepared text such as the Rainbow Passage, count backward from 100, or recite a memorized poem or song. ## Rainbow Passage - When the sunlight strikes raindrops in the air, they act like a prism and form a rainbow. The rainbow is a division of white light into many beautiful colors. These take the shape of a long round arch, with its path high above, and its two ends apparently beyond the horizon. There is, according to legend, a boiling pot of gold at one end. People …

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# Part I. OSHA-Accepted Fit Test Protocols (cont.) 9. The test shall not be conducted if there is any hair growth between the skin and the facepiece sealing surface, such as stubble beard growth, beard, mustache or sideburns which cross the respirator sealing surface. Any type of apparel which interferes with a satisfactory fit shall be altered or removed. 10. If a test subject exhibits difficulty in breathing during the tests, she or he shall be referred to a physician or other licensed health care professional, as appropriate, to determine whether the test subject can wear a respirator while performing her or his duties. 11. If the employee finds the fit of the respirator unacceptable, the test subject shall be given the opportunity to select a different respirator and to be retested. 12. Exercise regimen. Prior to the commencement of the fit test, the test subject shall be given a description of the fit test and the test subject's responsibilities during the test procedure. The description of the process shall include a description of the test exercises that the subject will be performing. The respirator to be tested shall be worn for at least 5 minutes before the start of the fit test. 13. The fit test shall be performed while the test subject is wearing any applicable safety equipment that may be worn during actual respirator use which could interfere with respirator fit. 14. Test Exercises. (a) Employers must perform the following test exercises for all fit testing methods prescribed in this appendix, except for the two modified ambient aerosol CNC quantitative fit testing protocols, the CNP quantitative fit testing protocol, and the CNP REDON quantitative fit testing protocol. For the modified ambient aerosol CNC quantitative fit testing protocols, employers shall ensure that the test subjects (i.e., employees) perform the exercise procedure specified in Part I.C.4(b) of this appendix for full-facepiece and half-mask elastomeric respirators, or the exe…