Fit Testing

All tight-fitting respiratory inlet coverings must form a seal to work properly and protect the worker. This makes fit testing essential to the overall safety of a respirator. If a respirator does not fit properly, it could allow atmospheric hazards to enter the mask. If a demand-mode mask is not properly sealed, inhaling will not create a large enough change in pressure, the intake valve will not open, and fresh oxygen will not enter the mask. Either scenario is dangerous. In this section, we will discuss both types of fit tests (qualitative and quantitative), when each fit test can be used, how to make use of the test results, and an example of each type of fit test.

To learn more about Respiratory Protection visit our Cal/OSHA Respiratory Protection Online Training web page.