What is face fit testing?
Recent research found that a significant amount of all Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) does not give the protection is should because it does not fit. Face fit testing ensures that your employees are safe by checking that an adequate seal can be formed when wearing their RPE.
Respiratory Protective Equipment
Where respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is used, it must be able to provide adequate protection for individual wearers. RPE can’t protect the wearer if it leaks. A major cause of leaks is poor fit – tight fitting facepieces need to fit the wearer’s face to be effective.
As people come in all sorts of shapes and sizes it is unlikely that one particular type or size of RPE facepiece will fit everyone. Fit testing will ensure that the equipment selected is suitable for the wearer.
Facial hair
Many masks rely on a good seal against the face so that, when you breathe air in, it is drawn into the filter material where the air is cleaned. If there are any gaps around the edges of the masks, ‘dirty’ air will pass through these gaps and into your lungs. It is therefore very important that you put your mask on correctly and check for a good fit every time. Facial hair – stubble and beards – make it impossible to get a good seal of the mask to the face. We therefore request that candidates are clean shaven when face fit testing is to be carried out.
Face fit testing at Camilla Training Aspects Ltd
Qualitative taste test face fit tests can be carried out by our experienced trainers at your premises or ours using our Face fitting kit.
Further information
For further information on Respiratory protective equipment and face fit testing please refer to the Respiratory protective equipment / fit testing basics pages on the HSE website
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For further information or to discuss your requirements and book please Contact us