Some workers cannot wear tight-fitting respirators due to claustrophobia or medical conditions. If you’re unsure whether or not you should be wearing a respirator, you should seek medical advice from a healthcare professional.
Fit testing is essential to ensure that your tight-fitting respirator can seal adequately to your face. Without proper fit testing, you may be at risk of inhaling harmful dust, fumes, vapours or gases. Fit testing is the only method available to confirm an adequate fit.
The fit test typically takes around 30 minutes; however, it can sometimes be completed in 15 to 20 minutes. If you fail the fit test, and need to be fit tested for a second respirator, it may take longer.
Prior to undergoing a fit test, you must:
- Ensure that there is no facial hair in the area where your respirator meets your face. If you are not clean-shaven in the seal area of the respirator, it will not be possible to conduct the fit test, and your employer will be charged as if the fit test had gone ahead. For guidance on what facial hair is acceptable, take a look at the Life Shavers poster which can be downloaded from the ‘Resources’ page on this website. If you are not prepared to be clean-shaven in the seal area of the respirator, you must not use a tight-fitting respirator – talk to your manager about what options there are for other types of respiratory protection, such as a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) with la oose fitting facepiece – these do not require fit testing.
- Refrain from smoking and vaping for 15 to 30 minutes before undergoing a fit test.
- Refrain from eating, drinking (except water), or chewing gum for 15 to 30 minutes before undergoing a fit test.
And you should, if possible:
- Bring two different respirators to the fit test. If the first cannot achieve an adequate fit, the fit tester can try a different one.
- Bring new, clean P3 filters if you are being fit tested for half- or full-face reusable respirators. Fit testing requires P3 filters to be in place (not gas, vapour or combination filters or cartridges).
Upon successfully passing the fit test:
You will be sent a Fit Test Certificate, by email, that includes:
- your name
- your date of the fit test
- the make, model and size of the respirator tested
- next fit test due date (typically within 12 months, but sooner if you change your respirator model or if your facial shape changes e.g. due to weight alterations, dental work, or surgery)
Fit Test New Zealand will also email a copy of your Fit Test Certificate to your business to confirm successful completion and indicate when the next test is due.
If you have been fit tested for a disposable respirator, be sure to ask your manager to ensure that there continues to be an adequate supply available, of the specific make, model and size of disposable respirator that you used to pass your fit test, so you will have respiratory protection available whenever you need it.
It is essential that you ensure the area where your respirator seals against your face is clean-shaven every time you wear your respirator. If there is facial hair (even stubble) present in this area your respirator will not achieve a reliable seal against your face and you may be exposing yourself to airborne contaminants that may damage your health.
It is also most important that you conduct a user fit check every time you put your respirator on, and before you enter the contaminated work area. This confirms that you have ‘donned’ the respirator correctly, and there is no obvious leakage under the seal. It also confirms that you have reassembled your respirator correctly after cleaning. And remember don’t remove your respirator until after you have left the contaminated area.
CHECKLIST FOR WORKERS – Please click here, complete this checklist, print it off and bring to your fit test.