Safety Bulletins Stress Respirator Fit Testing
Recent safety bulletins are emphasizing the importance of proper fit testing for all firefighters assigned to hazardous environments. The guidance reiterates that personal protective equipment is only as effective as its fit. This highlights the need for firefighters to be familiar with their department’s protocols for PPE and SCBA masks.
- U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations require annual fit testing for all personnel who wear tight-fitting respirators. Testing must be repeated if the user has significant physical changes like weight fluctuation, facial scarring, or major dental work. - The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1852 standard outlines the requirements for the selection, care, and maintenance of open-circuit self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). This includes ensuring proper fit to reduce health risks from poorly maintained or damaged SCBA. - There are two primary methods for fit testing: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative testing is a subjective pass/fail test relying on the user's sense of taste or smell to detect a challenge agent, while quantitative testing uses a machine to measure the actual amount of leakage into the facepiece, providing a numerical "fit factor." - Quantitative testing is considered more precise than qualitative methods. For a half-mask respirator, a minimum fit factor of 100 is required, and for a full-facepiece, the minimum is 500. - Even a small leak in a positive-pressure SCBA mask can be dangerous. The mask will demand more air from the bottle to maintain pressure and compensate for the leak, causing the firefighter to run out of air more quickly. - Facial hair, even stubble, can interfere with the respirator's seal. Studies have shown that facial hair can increase leakage from 20 to 1,000 times compared to a clean-shaven face. - The Seattle Fire Department uses the MSA G1 SCBA, which comes in three facepiece sizes (small, medium, and large) to accommodate different facial structures. The specific make, model, and size of the respirator that a firefighter will use on the job is the one they must be tested with. - Respirators must be approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). NIOSH-approved N95 respirators are designed to filter at least 95% of airborne particles.
