The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that 12,000 people die every single year of lung disease caused by work-related exposure. And this is not just historical cases winding down over time. The rate of new cases of occupational asthma reported by doctors has been relatively constant since 2010. This is an ongoing problem.
If your employees are exposed to hazardous dust or chemicals, it is vital you provide them with the equipment they need to minimise inhalation. And to make sure their equipment fits well enough to be effective.
With our HSE-approved Face Tit Tests you can trust that your employees are equipped with the best protection possible in these hazardous environments.
Face fit testing is the process of checking that respiratory protective equipment (RPE) creates an adequate seal with the wearer’s face to make sure it keeps out hazardous materials.
While providing RPE in certain workplaces is a legal requirement under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (2002), this will not offer enough protection if it is a poor fit. Face fit testing is the only way to make sure that the respirator seal is strong enough to keep out all hazardous materials.
We use quantitative fit testing to ensure we get a fully rounded and accurate assessment of equipment fit. This means we use an ambient particle counting device to measure particulates both inside and outside of the respirator to get an exact measurement of how well the mask fits and seals.
Unlike qualitative fit testing (which involves asking the wearer to detect particles themselves using smell or taste) quantitative testing can definitively determine the effectiveness of a mask. It reduces the chance of error and helps keep your employees safer.
To make the test completely accurate, we’ll get your employee to simulate job tasks to ensure movement doesn’t disrupt the fit.
If your employees need to wear a respirator while working, then you are legally required to get their equipment face fit tested.
Even the highest quality equipment will leave employees at risk if it has an inadequate fit. A face fit test is an essential part of preventing exposure in an environment known to have harmful particulates.
It is equally essential that you test each individual employee. Different face shapes will impact the seal a mask makes, and it is not enough to take a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
There is no set period after which you need to repeat a face fit test. You should do it regularly, but it is more important to carry out a test for each employee individually and for each mask, if and when you have to replace them.
Consult your mask manufacturer to see how often the mask should be replaced, and when this time elapses you should carry out another face fit test for the new mask. Even if you’re replacing like for like.
Any tight-fitting respirators or masks used in hazardous environments should be tested. This includes powered respirators, full face masks, and half mask respirators. Disposable face masks are the only variant that don’t need face fit testing.
Most employees with facial hair will not be able to pass a standard face fit test.
Unfortunately, hair prevents the edge of the mask from making a tight seal. You may be be surprised how many different facial hair styles can impact the face fit of RPE – even shorter stubble can reduce the protection it offers.
If you have an employee who has facial hair they are unable to shave, either for medical, religious or personal reasons, you should provide an alternative type of mask such as a full hood instead. These cover the full head, so the seal will no longer be made with any area covered in hair.
If you need advice about the option to use a loose-fitting respirator or hood, you can contact our occupational health team in Derby for support.
Here at David Barber Occupational Health, our face fit test pricing depends on how many tests are needed. For 8 or fewer tests, we charge a half-day rate – 9 or more will need a full-day rate.
If you’d like to know more about how much it will cost to get your team face fit tested, see our price list or contact our team for a personalised quote.
David Barber Occupational Health team can offer advice, assessments of work environments and a Face Fit Testing service for businesses and companies throughout the Midlands. We are able to offer on-site HSE Face Fit Testing in Derby, Nottingham and the surrounding areas, or tests can be carried out in our Head Office in Shardlow.
Our face fit testers have all undergone extensive training courses at the HSE laboratory in Buxton. This means they can identify unsuitable face pieces for use in hazardous environments.
If you want to protect your workplace and your employees when working with airborne hazards, our face fit testing can help.
Our expert occupational health team can help keep your staff (and your business) protected. We’ll make sure you’re complying with the relevant laws, and giving your staff the support they need. Talk to us today to book your tests.
Face Fit Testing is the only method approved by the HSE to fully protect employees against hazardous fumes, dust and chemicals. It’s a quick and easy procedure that keeps employees as safe as possible.
For employers it is a legal requirement to have your workers face fit tested if they are exposed to hazardous particulates while working.
Face Fit Testing protects poorly fitting RPE and that is all. Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is
However, faulty or poorly fitted RPE can lead to much more serious issues in the workplace like occupational asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
Any mask that is worn to keep out hazardous materials should be subjected to a face fit test. The one exception is the fabric ‘surgical’ masks like those were worn during the Covid pandemic. Anything that needs to create a seal with the wearer’s face should be tested.
If the chosen mask is assessed to be unable to keep out hazardous particulates, it will fail a face fit test. If this happens, you will need to find another respirator that does provide an adequate fit, either of a different shape or style such as a loose fitting hood respirator.
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