OHSS: H&S Guidance 401.2
Face Fit Testing Procedure and Guidance
Face Fit Testing: Procedure and
Guidance
Contents
Contents .................................................................................................................................................. 1
Scope ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
Summary of Requirements ..................................................................................................................... 3
Definitions ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Tight Fitting RPE .................................................................................................................................. 3
Face Fit Testing ................................................................................................................................... 4
Procedure................................................................................................................................................ 4
1.
2.
Carry out a Risk Assessment ....................................................................................................... 4
1.1.
Requirements for Face Fit Testing ...................................................................................... 4
1.2.
Requirements for repeat testing......................................................................................... 4
Choosing your RPE ...................................................................................................................... 5
2.1.
Adequacy............................................................................................................................. 5
2.2.
Suitability ............................................................................................................................ 5
2.3.
Types of RPE ........................................................................................................................ 5
Page 1 of 9
Guidance: Face Fit Testing
Version: 1
Owner: SJD
Date of creation: 11/2014
Review Date: 12/2019
2.4.
Types of Filter...................................................................................................................... 5
3.
Request a Test ............................................................................................................................. 8
4.
Attend a Test ............................................................................................................................... 8
5.
4.1.
What happens at the test? ................................................................................................. 8
4.2.
What happens if your RPE fails the test.............................................................................. 8
4.3.
Training ............................................................................................................................... 9
3.3
Records................................................................................................................................ 9
Arrangements for outsourcing face fit testing............................................................................ 9
Page 2 of 9
Guidance: Face Fit Testing
Version: 1
Owner: SJD
Date of creation: 11/2014
Review Date: 12/2019
Scope
This procedure and guidance is designed to aid the University in meeting its statutory duty to
provide face fit testing for Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) as imposed by;
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the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2000;
the Control of Lead at Work (CLAW) Regulations 2002 and;
the Control of Asbestos at Work (CAW) Regulations 2002.
Summary of Requirements
Where a risk assessment indicates that a tight fitting respirator is required to control exposure to a
hazardous substance then each individual wearing the RPE must, by law, undergo a face fit test.
The University will meet its obligations towards face fit testing by:
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ensuring that suitable and sufficient risk assessments are carried that will identify whether
RPE is required and what type is required;
ensuring that staff and students that are required to wear tight fitting RPE undergo a face fit
test including re-tests at suitable intervals;
providing the resource (personnel and equipment) to allow competent individuals to carry
out in-house qualitative face fit testing in each school or institute where a need has been
identified;
making arrangements and providing the resource for face fit testing by external competent
individuals where in house testing is not practical or sufficient;
keeping a record of the results of face fit tests for 40 years;
ensuring that staff and students required to wear RPE are trained in its use;
ensuring that reusable RPE is maintained, tested regularly and stored appropriately.
Definitions
Tight Fitting RPE
Tight fitting RPE includes filtering face pieces, half masks and full-face masks (Figure 1. Tight fitting
RPE. (a) Filtering face piece, (b) half mask, (c) full face maskFigure 1).
c
b
a
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Guidance: Face Fit Testing
Version: 1
Owner: SJD
Date of creation: 11/2014
Review Date: 12/2019
Figure 1. Tight fitting RPE. (a) Filtering face piece, (b) half mask, (c) full face mask
Face Fit Testing
Face fit testing is the method employed to ensure that a tight fitting face mask matches a person’s
facial features and provides an adequate seal. Qualitative face fit testing is a pass/fail method that
uses taste, smell or reaction to an irritant in order to detect leaks. Quantitative face fit testing uses a
machine to measure the amount of leakage into the face piece and does not rely on the user’s sense
of smell or taste.
Procedure
1. Carry out a Risk Assessment
Before you read any further you need to carry out a COSHH risk assessment. This process will
identify work activities for which RPE is required. Remember that RPE is the last line of defence and
therefore should only be used if ‘higher’ control measures, such as engineering controls, are not
sufficient and possibility of an inhalation exposure remains (see Section 4 of COSHH: Guidance to risk
assessment). RPE may not be required for day to day work activities but may be required in an
emergency, such as a spill clean-up. RPE selected for this reason must still be fit tested. RPE may
also be selected for short-term or infrequent work where ‘higher’ controls are not reasonably
practical.
1.1.
Requirements for Face Fit Testing
You will need to attend a face fit test if;
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you are a University member of staff or a student;
your risk assessment identifies the need for tight fitting RPE to control against exposure to a
hazardous substance whether for every day work or emergencies only and;
you need therefore need to purchase RPE or untested RPE is already in use.
Failure to attend face fit testing will result in you being removed from the work that creates the
inhalation hazard. You may not be able to access a particular facility. Continued use of untested
tight fitting RPE is a breach of the regulations stated above and could result in action being taken
against the University by HSE.
1.2.
Requirements for repeat testing
You will need to attend a repeat test at 5 year intervals or immediately if:
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Your risk assessment suggests that an interval less than 5 years is required;
you lose or gain weight;
you undergo substantial dental work;
you develop any facial changes around the face and mask seal area;
you decide to change to a different type of RPE than already tested.
Page 4 of 9
Guidance: Face Fit Testing
Version: 1
Owner: SJD
Date of creation: 11/2014
Review Date: 12/2019
2. Choosing your RPE
The RPE selected must be both adequate and suitable.
2.1.
Adequacy
To be adequate RPE must be sufficient to reduce exposure the hazard to an acceptable level.
Selection should take into account:
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2.2.
Toxicity of the hazard.
Form of the hazard e.g. gas, vapour, fume, dust, aerosol, biological agent.
Particle size (if relevant).
The Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) of the hazard (if it has one).
Known or suspected concentration of the hazard in the working atmosphere.
Suitability
To be suitable RPE selection must consider the wearer, the task and the environment so that the
wearer can work freely without additional risk caused by the RPE such as overheating. Selection
should take into account:
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2.3.
Movement involved in the task.
Working Conditions such as temperature.
Other PPE that must be worn at the same time such as ear protectors.
Characteristics of the individual such as face shape, presence of beard, glasses.
Types of RPE
Different types of RPE will protect against different types of hazard by varying degrees of protection.
The level of protection is described by the Assigned Protection Factor (APF) which is the factor by
which exposure to the hazard is reduced. Each type must comply with a British/European Standard
(BS EN) (table 2). All RPE used in the University must be CE marked and manufactured to the
relevant BS EN.
2.4.
Types of Filter
You will also need to select the appropriate filter for your work activity. A particulate filter will have
no effect when used with gases, and a gas filter will have no effect when used with particulate
hazards. Combined gas and particle filters are available. Filter types are summarised in table 3.
Page 5 of 9
Guidance: Face Fit Testing
Version: 1
Owner: SJD
Date of creation: 11/2014
Review Date: 12/2019
Table 1
Standard
BS EN 149
BS EN 405
BS EN 140
(BS EN 143
particulate
filter)
Description and purpose
Filtering facepieces for
particulates. Not suitable
for gases or vapours.
Filtering half masks
containing a gas filtering
and particle filtering
element for when both
types of hazard are present.
BS EN 12941
BS EN 12942
APF
Example
4
3M 8300 series
FFP2
10
FFP3
20
Alpha Solway
alpha S
FFGASxP1
4
10
3M 4279
maintenance
free disposable
FFGASxP2
10
10
3M 4251
FFGASxP3
20
10
P1
4
P2
10
P3
20
Gas
10
Gas+P3
10+20
P2
10
P3
40
Gas
20
Gas+P3
10+20
Positive pressure full face
hood/helmet to protect
against particulates and
gases/vapours.
TH1
10
TH2
20
TH3
40
Power assisted face mask
to protect against
particulates and
gases/vapours.
TM1
10
TM2
20
TM3
40
Half mask fitted with a
replaceable filter to protect
against gas or particulates.
(BS EN 141
gas/vapour
filter)
BS EN 136
Class or
Filter
FFP1
Full face mask with a
replaceable filter to protect
against gas or particulates.
particulates gases
3M 7500 series
Scott Vision RFF
100
Scott Proflow
Powered Air
Respirator +
Scott Flowhood
5
Scott Proflow
Powered Air
Respirator +
Scott Promask
Page 6 of 9
Guidance: Face Fit Testing
Version: 1
Owner: SJD
Date of creation: 11/2014
Review Date: 12/2019
Table 2
Colour Type
A
B
E
K
AX
Application
Class
Organic gases and vapours (boiling
point >65°C)
Inorganic gases and vapours (not
CO) i.e. Chlorine, H2S, HCN.
Sulphur Dioxide and acidic gases
and vapours
Ammonia and organic ammonia
derivatives
Max. Concentration
1
1000 ml/min3 (0.1 Vol %)
2
5000 ml/min3 (0.5 Vol %)
3
10000 ml/min3 (1.0 Vol %)
1
1000 ml/min3 (0.1 Vol %)
2
5000 ml/min3 (0.5 Vol %)
3
10000 ml/min3 (1.0 Vol %)
1
1000 ml/min3 (0.1 Vol %)
2
5000 ml/min3 (0.5 Vol %)
3
10000 ml/min3 (1.0 Vol %)
1
1000 ml/min3 (0.1 Vol %)
2
5000 ml/min3 (0.5% Vol %)
3
10000 ml/min3 (1.0 Vol %)
100 ml/min3 max. 40 min
Organic gases and vapours (boiling
point <65°C)
500 ml/min3 max. 20 min
1000 ml/min3 max. 60 min
5000 ml/min3 max. 20 min
NO-P3
Nitrogen Oxides e.g. NO, NO2, NOX
Max. allowed time of use –
20 min
Hg-P3
Mercury Vapours
Max. allowed time of use –
50 hours
CO
Carbon Monoxide
Reactor P3
Radioactive Iodine
P
Particulates
1
Low efficiency
2
Medium efficiency
3
High Efficiency
Page 7 of 9
Guidance: Face Fit Testing
Version: 1
Owner: SJD
Date of creation: 11/2014
Review Date: 12/2019
3. Request a Test
Your Principal Investigator or line manager should make arrangements for your face fit test. Contact
your School Safety Officer to find out whether there is a face fit tester in your school or institute. If
there is no face fit tester for your School or Institute contact OHSS.
4. Attend a Test
Before you attend your test you must ensure that you are clean shaven in the area of contact with
the face seal of the RPE. This will prevent an adequate seal from being achieved and the test will not
be successful. If you do not wish to remove facial hair then a loose fitting type of RPE should be
used which does not require a fit test. You must not have a cigarette up to 90 minutes before the
test. You must not eat, drink (except water) or chew gum up to 30 minutes before the test.
You may have already selected the type and brand of RPE you want to use (see section 4: Choosing
your RPE). You should bring this with you to your face fit test. Preferably, you should use the fit test
to help select the best type and brand of RPE. Your face fit tester will help you to make an informed
decision. A range of different models will be available for you to try.
4.1.
What happens at the test?
The in-house testing provided by the University is a qualitative face fit test. The subject wears the
RPE and a fit test hood (Figure 2). A test aerosol (bitter or sweet tasting) is sprayed inside the hood
while the subject carries out a series of exercises. If the subject can taste the aerosol then the RPE
fails the test. The procedure takes about 15-20 minutes. Due to the sensitivity of this test it is
suitable for filtering face pieces and half face masks only. Alternative arrangements must be made
for statutory testing of full face respirators (see Section 5).
Figure 2. Qualitative Face Fit Testing.
4.2.
What happens if your RPE fails the test
If the fit test fails the following will be attempted:
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The fit of the mask will be re-checked and adjustments made such as the positioning and
tightness of the straps or, if the mask has a nose clip, making sure it is shaped firmly to the
Page 8 of 9
Guidance: Face Fit Testing
Version: 1
Owner: SJD
Date of creation: 11/2014
Review Date: 12/2019
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4.3.
nose. The test will then be repeated. Often a better fit can be achieved by taking more care
when putting the mask on.
If the RPE still fails then the test will be repeated with a different size or a different model.
If the RPE still fails then you will be advised to either wear a loose fitting style of RPE (which
does not require a fit test) or to remove yourself from the task requiring RPE.
Training
RPE users must be trained in the correct use of the equipment and its limitations. You will therefore
be provided with training covering the following topics:
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3.3
Why fit testing is required.
How your selected RPE works.
How to wear and check RPE correctly.
Fit checking before use.
Maintenance required.
Storage and cleaning of RPE.
Employer and employee responsibilities.
Records
You will be provided with a report of the outcome of your face fit test. This is evidence that you
have attended a fit test and must be kept for 40 years. It must be made available for inspection if
required. Maintenance and inspection records of reusable RPE must be kept for 5 years.
5. Arrangements for outsourcing face fit testing
You will need to arrange for an external face fit tester to carry out quantitative face fit tests for full
face masks. You may also prefer to outsource for other reasons such as high demand for tests.
Page 9 of 9
Guidance: Face Fit Testing
Version: 1
Owner: SJD
Date of creation: 11/2014
Review Date: 12/2019