OSHA Physicals

Respirator Fit Testing

A respirator cannot protect your employees if it does not fit their face. Certain respirators, known as tight-fitting respirators, must form a tight seal with your face or neck to work properly. If a respirator doesn’t fit your face properly, contaminated air can leak into the respirator facepiece, and you could breathe in hazardous substances.

A respirator fit test determines if a tight-fitting respirator seals appropriately and does not leak. It should only take place after an employee has been medically cleared to wear a respirator and before the employee actually wears it on the job.

CONTACT US NOW
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

What to keep in mind when fit testing an employee:

  • Fit testing is required annually
  • A respirator fit test is required for all tight-fitting respirators.
  • An employee must complete the fit test using a respirator that is the same make, model, and size of one he/she will wear on the job while also wearing any other required equipment (e.g., glasses).
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT
Questions about a proper fit test?

What are the OSHA Regulations?

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134

  • A respirator shall be provided to each employee when such equipment is necessary to protect the health of such employee. The employer shall provide respirators which are applicable and suitable for the purpose intended. The employer shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a respiratory protection program. The employer is responsible for ensuring that a medical evaluation is performed to ensure that using a respirator will not place a physiological burden on the employee.
Do you have questions about the regulation?

Two types of Fit Testing

Qualitative Fit Test

What do you need to know?

  • Qualitative fit testing is a pass/fail test method that uses your sense of taste or smell, or your reaction to an irritant in order to detect leakage into the respirator facepiece.
  • Whether the respirator passes or fails the test is based on the employee detecting leakage of the test substance into their facepiece. There are four qualitative fit test methods accepted by OSHA:
    • Isoamyl acetate, which smells like bananas
    • Saccharin, which leaves a sweet taste in your mouth
    • Bitrex, which leaves a bitter taste in your mouth; and
    • Irritant smoke, which can cause coughing
  • Qualitative fit testing is normally used for half-mask respirators (those that just cover your mouth and nose).
Questions?
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Quantitative Fit Test

What do you need to know?

  • Quantitative fit testing uses a machine to measure the actual amount of leakage into the facepiece and does not rely upon the employee’s sense of taste, smell, or irritation in order to detect leakage.
  • The respirators used during this type of fit testing will have a probe attached to the facepiece that will be connected to the machine by a hose. There are three quantitative fit test methods accepted by OSHA:
    • Generated aerosol
    • Ambient aerosol
    • Controlled Negative Pressure
  • Quantitative fit testing can be used for any type of tight-fitting respirator.
Questions?
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Related News for you

View all news

Looking for something different?

We also offer many other Physicals, Screenings and Tests and Employer Services from Biometric Screenings to Work Injury Treatment Plans.

We offer a number of screenings, tests, and other medical services from Biometric Screenings to Vaccinations to X-Rays, and more. 

LEARN MORE

We offer a number of physicals related to DOT, Non-DOT Medical Services, and OSHA-Related work, such as DOT Physicals, Respirator and HAZMAT/HAZWOPER Physicals, and more.

View all Physicals

We offer services for all different types of employers, whether you are regulated by DOT, OSHA or any other government organization. We can manage your Work Injury Treatment Plans.

LEARN MORE

OnSite Clinic Services

Our Onsite Clinics can be utilized in one of two ways, Onsite Clinical Staffing or Mobile Onsite Clinics. This means we can either send a team of staff members to your place of business and use your facility to administer services or they can perform the services in our Mobile Clinic.

Browse all Onsite Clinics
  • Onsite Clinical Staffing

Our Onsite Clinical Staff are contracted to perform the medical services you need, when you need them, utilizing your facility spaces.

LEARN MORE
  • Mobile Onsite Clinics

Our medical staff will coordinate with you to determine the best place to set up our Mobile Health Clinic as well as how long you would need the unit. 

LEARN MORE

Respirator Physicals are offered at all offices

Lititz, PA Office

SCHEDULE NOW

Georgetown, DE Office

SCHEDULE NOW

Questions about Respirator Physicals?

Our Occupational Healthcare staff members specialize in Respirator Physicals and are ready to answer any questions you have whether you need In-Clinic Services or Onsite Clinic Services. All medical staff has very specific knowledge in Occupational Medicine, which is exactly what you need.

Physicals