RESPIRATOR TRAINING: How to Conduct a Respirator Fit-test?

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Safety Systems Hawaii, Inc.
presents
RESPIRATOR TRAINING How to Conduct a Respirator
Fit-test?
By Rocky Alvin T. Guillermo Cell (808)
330-2320 Email rockyguillermo_at_hawaii.rr.com
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Reasons WHY We Are Having this Training

• To know some significant OSHA standards.
• To be aware of what a contaminated air or
  hazardous particles can bring to us.
• To know some basic points about respirators.
• To learn the proper protocol on how to conduct
  respirator fit-testing.

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Some OSHA Standards 1910.134 (a) (2) A
respirator shall be provided to each employee
when such equipment is necessary to protect the
health of such employees. The employer shall
provide the respirators which are applicable and
suitable for the purpose intended. 1910.134 (d)
(1) (ii) The employer shall select a
NIOSH-certified respirator. The respirator shall
be used in compliance with the condition of its
certification. 1910.134 (d) (1) (iii) Where
the employer cannot identify or reasonably
estimate the employee exposure, the employer
shall consider the atmosphere to be IDLH.
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Todays Major topics

• Respirators
• Fit-testing Procedure using Bitrex/Saccharin

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Click one
Where?
When?
Disposable Respirators
Why?
What?
How?
Who?
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WHAT?
1. WHAT is a respirator?
2. WHAT are the kinds of respirator?
a. APR (Air Purifying Respirators)
- Disposable Respirators
- Reusable Half Masks/Halfpiece Respirators
- Reusable Full Mask/Fullface Respirators
b. SAR (Supplied Airline Respirators)
c. SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus)
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WHERE?
1. WHERE NOT to use Air-Purifying Respirators?

• environment less or greater than 20.9 Oxygen
• egress or means of escape is limited
• where ventilation is a problem

• in IDLH Environments(Immediately Dangerous to
  Life and Health)/Confined Spaces like manholes,
  vaults, silos, sewers and etc.
• working places not designed for continuous
  occupancy
• working areas where unknown atmospheric hazards
  are present like ( CO, H2S, and Methane)

DANGER Do not use an APR in a confined space.
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WHEN?
1. WHEN to change or toss a respirator?

• Worn
• Torn
• Cuts
• Chemical Burns
• Loose Straps
• Really Dirty
• Frayed
• Missing Parts/Components

If a respirator is of disposable kind then it
should be tossed away or condemned right after
use.
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WHY?
1. WHY should you use a respirator?

• For protection of yourself from airborne
  Pathogens like viruses, flu, and SARS, and also
  from toxic dusts and particulates, and noxious
  gases and vapors
• For protection of the patient especially when
  doing surgery operations (Ex. Surgical masks)
• For compliance to avoid citations

Respiratory protection is the number 1 most
frequently cited OSHA standards in year 2008 here
in Hawaii. Statistics shows that there were a
total of 42 citations.
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WHO?
1. WHO uses a respirator?

• Militaries
• Doctors and nurses
• Construction Workers
• Maintenance Workers
• Firefighters
• Painters

2. WHO can use a respirator?

• Anyone who has money
• Most importantly, anyone who is expose to
  atmosphere hazards

3. WHO is responsible to provide a respirator?
- EMPLOYER.
4. WHO is responsible to take care of a
respirator?
- EMPLOYEE/WEARER.
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HOW?

• HOW to inspect a disposable respirator ?

DONTs of Disposable Respirators
- Clean the respirator with alcohol/non-alcohol
wipes/towelletes.
- Clean it with warm water and mild
soap/detergents.
- Air dry or put it in the dryer machine.
- Soak respirator in water.
Always inspect your respirator every time you use
it.
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PARTICLES
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Filter Ratings
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Before wearing a respirator

• You must be fit-tested
• You must be trained how to use, inspect and
  maintain it
• You must be aware about its scope and limitations

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Before undergoing a respirator fit-testing

• You must have a medical clearance from a
  physician or other licensed health care
  professional (PLHCP)
• You must be clean shaven (mustache, side burns,
  stubble beard growth and any thing that may
  interfere with the seal of the respirator is not
  allowed.)

- A Licensed Health Care Professional (PLHCP) is
an individual who has successfully completed a
prescribed program of study in a variety of
health fields and who has obtained a license of
certificate indicating his or her competence to
practice in that field. - A Licensed Health
Care Professional (PLHCP) is one who administers,
prescribes, or dispenses medications or
procedures to relieve another persons pain or
discomfort, even if the medication or procedure
may hasten or increase the risk of death.
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Fit-testing
Means the use of protocol to qualitatively or
quantitatively evaluate the fit of a respirator
on an individual.
1. Qualitative Fit Test (QLFT)
Means a pass/fail fit test to assess the adequacy
of respirator fit that relies on the individuals
response to the test agent.
1. Using a Bitrex (Denatonium Benzoate)/Saccharin
test of taste
2. Using an Irritant Smoke (Stannic Chloride)
test of smell
2. Quantitative Fit Test (QTFT)
Means an assessment of the adequacy of respirator
fit by numerically measuring the amount of
leakage into the respirator.
Ex. Through the use of computer/sensor
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Things needed in conducting a respirator fit-test

• Fit-testing kit (Bitrex/Saccharin/Irritant Smoke)
• Paperwork (Records/Certificates)
• Selection of Respirators (Brand, Sizes, and
  Kinds)
• Gloves/Safety Glass
• Shaver and Shaving Cream
• Pens
• Mirror

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Criteria in Choosing the Best Respirator Fit

• Comfortability
• Seals well on the nose bridge
• Room for eye protection/vision
• Room to talk
• Covers the nose bridge to the chin
• Adequate strap tension

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Fit-testing using a Bitrex or Saccharin

• Ask for medical clearance.
• Ask to shave if there are any beards, sideburns,
  mustache or anything that may interfere with the
  seal of the respirator.
• Did you eat, drink (except plain water), smoke
  and chew gum in the last 15 minutes?
• Protect yourself using gloves.
• Inform what kind of testing agent and ask
  fit-test subject to open mouth and slightly
  extend tongue.
• Check sensitivity of the employee with the
  sensitivity solution using an approved hood with
  an interval of 10 squeezes. Trial and error,
  up to 30 squeezes. (Note how many squeezes was
  solicited which is either 10, 20 or 30 squeezes)
• Ask test subject to gargle with water.
• Conduct a simple training.
• Must ask to wear the respirator for at least 5
  minutes.
• Each step shall be performed in a minute.
• Do positive and negative user seal check.
• Pump the number of squeezes solicited initially
  then pump half of the number of squeezes
  solicited every after 30 seconds.

• Steps (Remember Tell test subject to breathe
  through the mouth with tongue extended and not to
  adjust mask during the process or this voids the
  test.)
• Breathe normally (ASK)
• Breathe deeply (ASK)
• Turn head all the way from one side to another
  (ASK)
• Nod head up-and-down (ASK)
• Talking (ASK) (Ex. Rainbow Passage, Count
  backward from 100, or recite a memorized poem or
  song)
• Bending over/Jogging in place (ASK)
• 7. Breathe normally (ASK)

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Conduct a simple training

• How to put on a respirator
• How to position a respirator on the face
• How to set strap tension

gt Go Back to Bitrex
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• Questions
• How about if a disposable respirator does not
  give good fit to the wearer or he failed during
  the fit-testing?
• ANSWER Recommend another brand.
• 2. How often shall a qualitative fit-testing be
  conducted?
• ANSWER At least 6 months.
• 3. When is fit-testing required?
• ANSWER
• a. Every year
• b. Weight change of 20 pounds or more
• c. Significant facial scarring in the area of
  the facepiece seal
• d. Reconstructive or cosmetic surgery
• e. Significant dental changes multiple
  extractions without prosthesis.

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Influenza A Virus Subtype H1N1

• Popularly known as the swine flu and this is
  caused by any strain of influenza virus endemic
  in pigs (swine). Swine flu is rare in human. The
  2009 swine flu outbreak originated in Venacruz
  State, Mexico and the first victim was a 5-year
  old child.
• Right now, there are 3766 confirmed deaths
  because of Swine Flu in America and 5335 total
  all over the world.
• Symptoms chills, fever, sore throat, muscle
  pains, severe headache, coughing, weaknesses, and
  general discomfort.
• Prevention of spread in humans
• Frequent washing of hands with soap and water
• Social Distancing
• Using protective barriers like respirators and
  safety glasses
• Covering mouth when sneezing and coughing

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Questions???
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Hands-on Test
Cheat Sheet
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Rainbow Passage

• When the sunlight strikes raindrops in the air,
  they act like a prism and form a rainbow. The
  rainbow is a division of white light into many
  beautiful colors. These take the shape of a long
  round arc, with its path high above, and its two
  ends apparently beyond the horizon. There is,
  according to legend, a boiling pot of gold at one
  end. People look, but no one ever finds it. When
  a man looks for something beyond reach, his
  friends say he is looking for the pot of gold at
  the end of the rainbow.

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