How often should SCBA mask be fit tested?
Under 1910.134, fit testing must be performed initially (before the employee is required to wear the respirator in the workplace) and must be repeated at least annually. Fit testing must also be conducted whenever respirator design or facial changes occur that could affect the proper fit of the respirator.
Before a firefighter may be required to use the SCBA, he/she must be fit-tested with the same make, model, style, and size of respirator that will be used. If different makes, models, styles, and sizes of facepieces are used, the firefighter must be fit-tested for each.
SCBA face piece fit testing is required by NFPA, OSHA and other safety standards to ensure an adequate mask seal and acceptable Fit Factor.
FREQUENCY OF TESTS
According to OSHA, you should inspect SCBAs before each use, during cleaning, and at least monthly. NFPA 1852 advises that a user should inspect his assigned SCBA at the beginning of his shift. For SCBAs not assigned to a specific individual, the inspection interval should not exceed one week.
It is a recommendation that fit testing is repeated at least once every two years for each mask type.
In addition to the above requirements, SCBAs must be inspected monthly. Air and oxygen cylinders shall be maintained in a fully charged state and must be recharged when the pressure falls to 90% of the manufacturer's recommended pressure level.
In order to be suitable for the wearer, the Approved Code of Practice for the Control of substances hazardous to health regulations 2002 requires that tight-fitting RPE should be face fit tested by a competent individual as part of the selection process.
Fit testing is not only required by AS/NZS 1715; it's vital to respiratory safety. This list provides some of the whys and hows of fit testing. Fit tests must be performed before use of a tight-fitting respirator.
NFPA 1852: Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
PAPRs with loose-fitting facepieces, hoods, or helmets do not require fit testing. Fit tests must be performed by a qualified individual, able to follow the protocol & train employees. Records must be kept on Know fit tested size and A fit test is required before a file until the next annual test model of respirator.
How often should firefighter PPE be inspected?
The answer is pretty simple. Turnout gear should be washed after every exposure to fire or smoke and should go through advanced cleaning and inspection every six months by a verified ISP per NFPA 1851 guidelines. This is the ideal cleaning schedule for all turnout gear and equipment.
NFPA 1500 provides the protocols required for everything from fire fighter training, vehicles, and tools to emergency operations, medical and physical requirements, incident stress, and the use of protective clothing and equipment.
The two standards that apply to SCBAs are NFPA 1981: Standards on Open Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus for Emergency Services, and NFPA 1982: Selection, Care and Maintenance of Open Circuit Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. The NFPA recommends that SCBAs be replaced every 10 years.
The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) recommends that all Self- Contained Breathing Apparatus should be replaced every 10 years. Currently, all of our packs are in proper working order, but they have surpassed NFPA's recommended lifespan.
All SCBA's shall be inspected and serviced every twelve months by an authorized repair facility. The inspection and servicing shall include the following: Disassembly and cleaning of the regulator and other major components, such as the low-air alarm, face-piece, etc. Replacement of all worn parts.
On completion of your Face Fit Test; your certification is valid for 3 years (unless otherwise stated by your employer). However, you must always take a new Face Fit Test if you: Get any different type of RPE mask which requires a different test/is not similar to the mask used in your previous test.
Face Fit testing is a method of ensuring that a facepiece or mask is tight-fitting and seals adequately to the wearer's face. The performance of tight-fitting facepieces depends on achieving continuous contact between the wearer's skin and the seal of the mask.
HSG 53 (Respiratory Protective Equipment at Work) states that breathing apparatus should have thorough maintenance, inspection and tests on a monthly basis, however if it is used only occasionally then this interval can be extended to a maximum of 3 months.
Response: Yes. The OSHA Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134) requires employees to be fit tested prior to the initial use of a respirator, and whenever a different respirator facepiece (i.e., of a different size, style, model or make) is used (see 29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2)).
Ensure that no holes or tears are present. Inspect for cracked, scratched or loose-fitting lenses and missing gaskets. Ensure that the metal nose clip forms easily over the bridge of the nose on disposable respirators. Make sure the facepiece edges are not rippled or distorted.
How long do you have to keep respirator fit test records?
The employer must enforce use of the respiratory protection. Document retention: Employers must retain records of employee medical evaluations for the duration of employment plus 30 years. Employers must also retain fit-test records for respirator users until the next fit test is administered.
Which patients are eligible for FIT? Faecal occult blood tests should not be offered patients, with an abdominal or rectal mass, rectal bleeding, anal ulceration or if they are age >60 y with iron deficiency anaemia.
The most widely-used Quantitative fit testing method is the Ambient Particle Counting method (the TSI PortaCount). The PortaCount measures the ratio of particles inside and outside the facepiece and provides a numerical result called a Fit Factor.
OSHA does not list specific training requirements for fit test providers. As long as the person you select to perform the fit test can follow the procedure properly and documents the results, you should be compliant.
The OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134) prohibits fit testing of employees if there is any hair growth between the skin and facepiece sealing surface, such as stubble beard growth, beard, moustache, or sideburns which cross the respirator sealing surface (Appendix A.I.A. 9.).