Workplace Respirators: OSHA’s Respirator Protection Standard & the Importance of Fit Testing
Workers in the United States across a wide range of industries—including pharmaceutical, healthcare, defense, oil and gas, manufacturing, forestry and agriculture, mining, construction, and more—are required to wear respirators as part of national workplace health and safety standards established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other state or federal regulators.
In workplaces that require respirators, employers must establish documented respiratory protection programs and ensure employees are wearing respirators that provide optimal fit by conducting regular fit testing with OSHA-compliant equipment.
The Basics of Respirator Protection in the Workplace
Respirators are devices designed to protect the user from inhaling harmful dusts, gases, vapors, sprays, mists, fogs, smokes, or other particulate matter as well as airborne pathogens. If inhaled, these hazards can lead to a range of health conditions such as cancer, lung impairments, diseases, or even death.
There are two main types of respirators: air-purifying respirators, which filter contaminated air from the atmosphere, and air-supplied respirators, which supply clean air from another source. Additionally, to accommodate different face shapes and degrees of protection, respirators come in a variety of styles, sizes, and designs.
What Is the OSHA Respirator Protection Standard?
OSHA has established regulations to direct the use of respirators for general industry (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134) as well as specific standards for the maritime industry (OSHA 29 CFR 1915.154, OSHA 29 CFR 1917.92, OSHA 29 CFR 1918.102) and the construction industry (OSHA 29 CFR 1926.103).
These standards are designed to protect the health of employees and require employers to provide appropriate, properly fitted respirators when necessary. To stay compliant with the OSHA Respirator Protection Standard, employers must also establish a respirator protection program that documents respiratory use in their workplace, including respirator selection, training, and fit testing.
The Importance of Respirator Fit Testing
Most types of respirators provide protection by forming a tight seal between the respirator and the skin of the user. If the respirator does not seal properly, it will not provide the expected protection. In fact, the respirator’s assigned protection factor (APF)—its advertised level of protection—is only valid if the respirator passes a fit test.
According to OSHA, ft tests should be performed on several occasions, including before initial use, whenever a new or different respirator is used, when physical changes that could affect fit occur, and at least annually for optimal safety and protection. Additionally, personal protective equipment (PPE) like safety goggles, face shields, and hardhats can affect the fit of a respirator, so PPE must be worn during the fit test to ensure the reading is accurate.
While qualitative fit tests rely on the wearer to detect a particular taste or smell to determine the fit of a respirator, quantitative fit tests are much more accurate and require the use of an instrument to measure leakage. Ideally, employers should use high-quality quantitative respirator fit testing equipment to conduct regular fit tests in the workplace.
Industry-Leading Respirator Fit Testing Equipment & Machines
To ensure your workplace remains in compliance with OSHA’s respiratory standards, it’s important to have access to accurate, high-quality respirator fit test systems. At RAECO rents, we offer a selection of industry-leading quantitative respirator fit testing machines you can rent as needed to accurately evaluate respirator fit, ensure your workplace meets all OSHA requirements, and provide the best possible protection for you and your employees.
TSI PortaCount Pro 8030 & TSA PortaCount Pro+ 8038
The TSI PortaCount Pro 8030 is a quantitative respirator fit test system designed to test a variety of respirators, including disposable filtering facepieces, HEPA masks, half- and full-face masks, gas masks, PAPR, and SCBA masks. The TSI PortaCount Pro+ 8038 model is also approved for testing N95 disposable masks for hospital use as well as P1 and P2 respirators.
TSI PortaCount 8040 &
TSI PortaCount 8048
The TSI PortaCount 8040 quantitative respirator fit testing system shows real-time fit changes throughout donning and adjustment and can test up to four people simultaneously. The system is OSHA compliant for all tight-fitting respirators including series 99, 100, and FFP3 facepiece respirators. For an option that can test N95 masks as well as all tight-fitting respirators, turn to the TSI PortaCount 8048 model.
OHD QuantiFit &
OHD QuantiFit2
The OHD QuantiFit quantitative respirator fit testing system uses an OSHA-approved five-step REDON protocol and can complete a typical fit test in less than three minutes. Additionally, the OHD QuantiFit can store up to 500 tests—up to a year’s worth or more.
The innovative OHD QuantiFit2 machine is a highly specialized instrument designed to directly measure respirator leakage. It uses patented controlled negative pressure (CNP) technology to perform the fastest, easiest, and most precise respirator fit test available on the market.
Rent High-Quality Respirator Fit Testing Equipment at RAECO Rents
At RAECO Rents, we have the latest respirator fit testing equipment, machines, and kits for industry professionals. Our goal is to provide you with the devices you need to quickly and accurately conduct quantitative fit tests on respirators in the workplace. With the data provided by our respirator fit testing equipment, you can ensure your respirators are providing optimal protection for employees.
When you rent equipment from RAECO Rents, you can expect to get clean, operable, high-quality instruments. With our Instant-On guarantee and after-hour support, we are determined to make your rental experience easy.
Contact our rental service team today to get help finding high-quality respirator fit testing equipment.
