Asbestos Training includes Qualitative Face Fit Testing

Last Updated on May 10, 2021 by

As well as various types of Asbestos Training, Armco Asbestos Consultants offers face fitting for Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE). The use of facepieces/masks is a valuable tool in safeguarding again the inhalation of potentially harmful substances. In recent years, RPE has been issued to employees but there has been no regulations to ensure that they are worn correctly and much common practice (i.e. ripping holes in the mask to smoke) have meant that users have been exposed to harmful toxins. Consequently, as well as common law duty of care on employers to protect employees, it was deemed necessary to implement The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 2002. These updates to the 2002 regulations came into effect on 6 April 2005. The amendments give a new focus on good practice and help employers meet their duties under COSHH legislation.

Face fit testing is a method for checking that a tight fitting facepiece matches the wearer’s facial features and seals adequately to the wearer’s face.  An inadequate fit will significantly reduce the protection provided to the wearer, even though the user is wearing a respirator correctly selected for the given application. All wearers of tight fitting facepieces should be tested to ensure that their masks fit their face profiles. Tight fitting face pieces include full-face masks, half facemasks and filtering facepieces, which are commonly referred to as disposable masks. This includes those facepieces which may only be worn for escape purposes and those worn infrequently.

Face fitting should be carried out in the following instances:

• As part of the initial selection of RPE;
• When an un-tested facepiece is already in use;
• Repeat tests are required when a user looses or gains weight, undergoes   substantial dental surgery and develops any facial changes such as facial hair, scarring or moles;
• If an employee uses various types of facepieces then they should be fitted for each type;

Here at Armco, we have been proving the qualitative  face fitting service for many years and can offer the service at a high standard and a competitive price, giving both employers and employees peace of mind.

Subjects are asked to be clean shaven within the region of the facepiece seal and should refrain from eating, drinking, chewing gum and smoking for 30 minutes before the test takes place. The test itself takes around 20 minutes per person and you be asked to replicate the type of positions you would undertake in your daily work. On passing the test you will receive a face fit certificate and those whom fail will be advised as to the type of masks available to them. Please note that the face pieces must be regularly inspected for wear and tear. Legislative information can be found on the Heath and Safety Executive website: www.hse.gov.uk/PUBNS/fittesting.pdf 

Armco is based in Bury, Manchester and offers servies locally and nationwide. For further information on face fitting or any other Asbestos Training offered, competitive prices and available dates please contact the Armco Team on 0161 763 3727, submit your interest through the website or emailinfo@armco.org.uk

Published Oct 21, 2011