Respirator Fit

When testing the fit of the respirator, employers must do the following:

• Ensure that employees are fit tested with the same make, model, style, and size of respirator that they will be using.
• Ensure that employees using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator pass an appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT).
• Ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different size, style, model or make of respirator facepiece is used, and at least annually thereafter.
• Conduct an additional fit test whenever an employee reports (or the employer, physician or other licensed health-care professional, supervisor, or program administrator makes) visual observations of changes in an employee's physical condition that could affect respirator fit. Such conditions include, but are not limited to, facial scarring, dental changes, cosmetic surgery, or an obvious change in body weight.

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