Face Fit Test – Qualitative testing
Introduction
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). Say it in-full occasionally to remind yourself about the Hazardous to Health bit.
The employer will need to make and risk assessment of any substance or preparation that has a warning symbol on the label:
Assessment must consider the hazardous properties of the substance and information on health effects provided by the supplier, usually in the Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
Next, think about likely exposure to this stuff. Put simply, that is:
How much is being used or handled?
Millilitres, litres, grams, kilograms, tonnes, buckets, cans, sacks or barrels per day?
How long will you be exposed to this stuff?
A few minutes or hours; occasionally or on every working day?
How can it get at you? (route of exposure).
Contact with your skin (or eyes).
Swallowing it (ingestion).
Breathing it in either as a dust, vapour, fume, aerosol or gas.
If you can’t avoid using or handling this substance, what protective measures should be used to prevent/minimise likelihood of exposure?
An employer will also, need to consider what work activities are being undertaken that can cause exposure to a substance hazardous to health? For example, sawing, cutting, grinding and sanding processes using power tools on concrete, brick, stone, timber, etc. can create fine particles of dust that can easily float in the air you breathe.
Long-term inhalation of silica particles from concrete or stone will irreversibly damage lung tissue and significantly reduce a person’s quality of life and their life-expectancy in later life. My best advice is, avoid breathing in any sort of dust, it ain’t good for you!
Other work processes, such as: welding, spray-painting, handling or mixing dry powders will generate either airborne fumes, vapours or dust. Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems can effectively capture and remove these substances from enclosed workplaces. However, in many situations LEV will not be the solution, particularly when you have to get close and personal to the source. This is the point where Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) becomes an effective solution. Correct selection of suitable PPE is very important to prevent inhalation of an airborne substance and achieve the necessary level of protection needed.
Tight-fitting RPE is essential to achieve an effective seal between the face mask and the wearer’s face that can ensure the expected level of protection is provided. A poor seal is a leaky seal and lead to the wearer being exposed to the hazardous airborne substance present. This type of failure of RPE is not uncommon and workers may be unknowingly putting their long-term health at risk, more so, if the substance does not have a noticeable smell or immediate effect.
From personal experience as a chemist, inhalation exposure to a corrosive gas or vapour can bring about very rapid irritation to your airways and quickly lead to a spasm of coughing, something that you don’t want to do when you’re wearing a mask. Therefore, an effective seal around your face mask is essential. Unfortunately, the seal between the face and the edge of the mask is the most common problem area. You may also see a user slipping on their mask after having kept it on their head or hanging round the neck for ages. Sweat, dirt or some other type of contamination.
Face Fit Test – Qualitative testing
Achieving a good seal depends upon several factors. The shape and contours of a person’s face. The presence of facial hair, raised moles, scarring or acne. The user must also know how fit and position the mask correctly and then comfortably tighten it into the face. Finally, the user should know how to do a simple tightness test.
FFP3 - Disposable dust mask
Reusable Half-mask
It is the employer’s duty under the PPE Regulations 1992 (as amended), to select suitable equipment for the task being done. Given the range of different types of RPE available, it important to ensure that the employer’s choice does-the-job and protects their workers. General advice on selection of RPE is covered in the HSE guidance - Respiratory protective equipment at work: A practical guide (HSG53).
Face fit testing for each worker can confirm their RPE is fit for purpose and the employer’s selection is either correct or may need changing. Undertaking this process is evidence that the employer is taking reasonably practicable steps to ensure the health of their workers at work. Testing is not compulsory but it is a positive commitment to compliance with Health and Safety Law.
Safety For Group Ltd can offer accredited Qualitative Fit Testing to employers whose workers are using tight fitting respirators. Full face masks are not tested because the test method uses a hood placed over the user’s head which is not large enough for the full mask fitted with a filter. For testing this type of RPE it will be necessary to use a different Quantitative testing method.
Qualitative Fit Testing can be used not only as a test method to ensure workers are properly protected. Testing is also a very effective means of training workers about the correct way to fit their mask because disposable dust masks or half masks commonly fail to do the job they are intended to do because the wearer does not to know how to their RPE properly. Poor care and maintenance of reusable RPE can also lead to kit failure to the face seal.
What we do:
In simple terms, the fit test uses a transparent hood that is placed over person’s head and to make a small test chamber around the user’s breathing zone. We ask each worker to show us what type of mask they use. The tester will inspect and check the mask is in working order before the wearer puts it on. The testing hood is then fitted and a test solution is frequently sprayed into the hood under a variety of test conditions to ‘challenge’ the wearer’s mask seal. The tester will monitor the user’s facial response and will regularly ask them if they can ‘taste anything?’.
This test solution sprayed into the hood has a very bitter taste. It is the same substance that is put in some medicines or on children’s toys and fingernails to stop them chewing them. It is harmless but is very unpleasant taste. If there is a response within a set time the test is recorded as a fail for that person. All the RPE users are tested in turn and the overall results are assessed and conclusions and recommendations are reported to the employer. Some repeat testing is necessary for any fails to find a reason why, that is, is it an issue with the selected mask or some other factor.
The outcome of this testing exercise is to ensure when workers have to use RPE as a control measure to protect themselves from a substance classified as Hazardous to Health, they are confident and reassured that their kit does what is expected.