Page 83 - OHS, July/August 2022

where it is required, they must undergo a medical evaluation. First is an online self-evaluation to determine their physical health—standard questions are asked about smoking, physical fifitness, asthma, allergies, etc. If they pass the test, they move forward with the fit testing portion. If the employee fails the test, they must go in for a complete physical with a physician or be moved from the jobsite.
Fit testing of respiratory protection is the next step to ensure employees breathe safely and are protected from silica. These fit tests are conducted annually, and the records are kept in a database for three to five years. Those taking the test must be cleanly shaven, as facial hair creates a barrier from a tight seal around the nose and mouth. Masks must be worn appropriately; whether disposable, half or full fitting, the masks must fit the face snugly.
There are two types of fit testing, qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative fit testing is more commonly used due to the ease of the test. The test can be administered by anyone who is fit test certified and is conducted by placing a hood over a user with a respirator on. The hood is then filled with an irritant, like Saccharin, Bittrex, Smoke or Isoamyl Acetate. If the irritant penetrates through the mask, the user will begin to cough or taste bitterness, and the mask will be deemed an improper fit.
Benefits to this form of testing are that it is cheaper than quantitative and can be administered on jobsites, however this form of testing is subjective. The employee being tested could lie about what they taste or smell, or there could be outlying factors like allergies that disrupt a person’s regular breathing pattern.
Quantitative fit testing is less common and is conducted by a monitor that measures the pressure drop and communicates success through a numerical fit factor. A “fit factor” changes based on the style of the respirator. It determines if it “fits.” N95 and half-face masks are judged on a point system up to 200pts, but anything above 100pts is considered passing. Full face masks are measured up to 500pts. This form of testing is that it is the most accurate read- out, but employees will generally have to leave work to go to a third-party clinic to get the test conducted, and it typically costs more to conduct.
Aftfter fifit testing is complete, the employee is given a sizing and model card that they must keep on them when working where respirators are required, or some larger companies will upload their employee’s fit test cards to OSHA’s database.
User Frustrations Can Lead
to a Lack of Compliance
Even with all these standards, testing and potentially fatal silica-related diseases, we still see a trend of users not wearing proper respiratory protection. If a user’s personal protective equipment isn’t comfortable, it won’t be worn at all. The main frustration with this protection is comfort. Many employees complain about the way a respirator fits, saying the straps become uncomfortable over extended periods of time.
Another frustration is heat. While working in hot conditions, many respirators do not keep the users cool. Some PPE manufacturing companies provide solutions that keep users cool and comfortable by providing features like a full gasket, ultrasonically welded adjustable straps and a temperature- reducing valve.
The Bottom Line
OSHA is committed to keeping workers safe from silica with dust management and extraction but also asks contractors and safety directors to integrate respiratory protection onto their jobsites to ensure that employees are safe and healthy. Workers who need respiratory protection will need to undergo the proper medical and fit testing to ensure they are compliant and adequately protected from harmful silica. These standards and commitment to protection will ultimately help keep employees safe and productive on the jobsite.
Kyle Anderson is a product manager at Milwaukee Tool. Mr. Anderson joined Milwaukee Tool in 2015 as part of the company’s Hand Tools Industrial Design team. He is directly responsible for overseeing the strategy and product development for the company’s safety category. Mr. Anderson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and minored in Business at Marquette.
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