National Personal Protective
Technology Laboratory
Understanding Respirator Fit Testing
Personal Protective Equipment Selection,
Use and Expectations: PPT Stakeholder
Meeting and Workshop
Chris Coffey, Judy Hudnall,
Cathy Calvert, Bill Newcomb, Jay Parker,
Jim Johnson, Patty Quinlan, Tim English
March 21, 2012
NIOSH PPT / NPPTL
Vision & Mission
The VISION is to be the leading provider of quality, relevant, and timely
PPT research, training, and evaluation.
The MISSION of the PPT program is to prevent work-related injury,
illness and death by advancing the state of knowledge and application
of personal protective technologies (PPT).
PPT in this context is defined as the technical methods, processes, techniques, tools, and materials
that support the development and use of personal protective equipment worn by individuals to
reduce the effects of their exposure to a hazard.
Disclaimer
 Mention of commercial product or trade name
does not constitute endorsement by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
Objectives
 Provide overview of fit testing
 Cover terminology and OSHA requirements
 Explain and demonstrate fit test methods
– Applicability to specific respirator types
– Strengths and Weaknesses
Outline
 Overview of Fit Testing
 Respirator Types
 OSHA Requirements
 Qualitative Fit Test Demonstration
 Quantitative Fit Test Demonstration
 Questions and Answers
Overview
 Fit test
 Purpose
 Qualitative
 Quantitative
 Fit factor
Past Fit Test Method
Results of Coal Dust Test
Outline
 Overview of Fit Testing
 Respirator Types
 OSHA Requirements
 Qualitative Fit Test Demonstration
 Quantitative Fit Test Demonstration
 Questions and Answers
Respirator Types
 Tight fitting
 Quarter mask
 Half facepiece
 Filtering facepiece respirators
 Full facepiece
 Neckdam hood
 Air Purifying
 Negative-pressure (non-powered)
 Powered
 Atmosphere Supplying
 Supplied-air
 Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
Outline
 Overview of Fit Testing
 Respirator Types
 OSHA Requirements
 Qualitative Fit Test Demonstration
 Quantitative Fit Test Demonstration
 Questions and Answers
OSHA Requirements - Fit Testing
(29 CFR 1910.134)
 Part of compliant respirator program
 Medical evaluation
 Fit testing
 Model/Size selection
 User seal check
 OSHA-accepted protocols
 Appendix A - Testing Procedures (mandatory)
 Frequency
 Annual
 As needed
Interferences with Fit
 Facial hair
 Facial jewelry
 Scars and disfigurements
Facial Jewelry
Used with permission of Imperial Body Art
Facial Jewelry
Used with permission of Imperial Body Art
Facial Hair
Used with permission of Imperial Body Art
Facial Hair
Used with permission of Imperial Body Art
Facial Hair
Used with permission of Beards.org
Facial Hair
Used with permission of subject
Facial Hair
Used with permission of subject
Use of Fit Test Results
 Assigned protection factor (APF)
 Pass/Fail criteria
 Air purifying
 Half facepiece
 Full facepiece
 Powered air-purifying respirators
 Atmosphere supplying
 Maximum use concentration (MUC)
 Occupational exposure limit (OEL)
Fit Test Methods
 Qualitative
 Sweet (saccharin) and bitter (BitrexTM)
 Iso-amyl acetate
 Irritant smoke (not recommended by NIOSH)
 Quantitative
 Controlled negative pressure (CNP)
 Aerosol
 Generated
 Ambient
Outline
 Overview of Fit Testing
 Respirator Types
 OSHA Requirements
 Qualitative Fit Test Demonstration
 Quantitative Fit Test Demonstration
 Questions and Answers
Qualitative Fit Test Demonstration
 Exercises
 Considerations
 Saccharin/Bitrex
 Irritant smoke (not recommended by NIOSH)
 Conduct test
Bitrex/Saccharin Test
Irritant Smoke Test
(Not Recommended by NIOSH)
Iso-amyl Acetate Test
Outline
 Overview of Fit Testing
 Respirator Types
 OSHA Requirements
 Qualitative Fit Test Demonstration
 Quantitative Fit Test Demonstration
 Questions and Answers
Quantitative Fit Test Demonstration
 Exercises
 Considerations
 CNP
 Ambient aerosol
 Generated aerosol
 Conduct test
 CNP
 Ambient aerosol
CNP Test
Photographs courtesy of OHD, LLC
Ambient Aerosol Test
Photographs courtesy of Instrument Systems, Inc.
Generated Aerosol Test
.
Outline
 Overview of Fit Testing
 Respirator Types
 OSHA Requirements
 Qualitative Fit Test Demonstration
 Quantitative Fit Test Demonstration
 Questions and Answers
Questions
 Chris Coffey – ccc3@cdc.gov
 Cathy Calvert – cac3@cdc.gov
 Judy Hudnall – jbh1@cdc.gov
 Jim Johnson – jsjsrj@comcast.net
 Bill Newcomb – byf6@comcast.net
 Jay Parker – ezp3@cdc.gov
 Patty Quinlan – pquinlan@medsfgh.ucsf.edu
Quality Partnerships Enhance Worker
Safety & Health
Visit us at: http//www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl
Disclaimer:
The findings and conclusions in this presentation have not been
formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health and should not be construed to represent any
agency determination or policy.
Thank you