Face to FaceQualitative Fit Test

Training

Theory- HSE Guidelines- Respirators- Kit Care & Set Up

Practical- Sensitivity Test- Fit Test- Record Keeping

Documentation- Certificate- Delegate Pack- Videos

Agenda

• Experts in RPE with a team of field based RPE specialists delivering education, support and training

• Offer a complete range of RPE products to ensure that 100% of frontline staff are protected against all respiratory hazards

• The market leader in healthcare and working with the majority of NHS Trusts, private groups and community workers across the UK

About Full Support Healthcare

• Understand HSE guidance around RPE andface fit testing

• Fit test colleagues in your area with Easimask®

• Log and maintain accurate fit testing records

• Inform you of recent updates to HSE guidelines

• Provide a training course to ensure you leave competent, confident and safe

• Ongoing support and guidance

Working in Partnership

• RPE fit testing should be conducted by a competent person. To be competent the person should have adequate knowledge, and have received adequate instruction and training in 16 areas of competency. Ref: HSE INDG 479

• These 16 areas relating to competency will be covered in this presentation.

Competent Person

The Importance ofFit Testing

• To protect the individuals health and safety• It is a legal requirement• To ensure that the selected RPE is

adequate and suitable – to keep you safeAdequate RPE is right for the hazard and reduces exposure to the level required to protect the wearer’s health.Suitable RPE is right for the wearer, task and environment, such that the wearer can work freely and without additional risks due to the RPE.

• Each specific model of respirator needs to be fit tested

Why do we Fit Test

There are an extensive list of AGPs, please refer to your own trust policy

Who should wear an FFP3?

GAP

Surgical Mask Respirator RPE Mask

Surgical Mask v Respirator Mask

FFP1 & FFP2 are available but the NHS has standardized to FFP3

FFP3 Respirator: • Protects against 99.95% of particulate matter.

• They also protect against solid and liquid aerosols.

• FFP3 masks are suitable for handling hazardous powders, such as those found in the pharmaceutical industry, respiratory bacteria and viruses.

Filtering Face Pieces

Unvalved respirators filter inhaled and exhaled particles, protecting both the wearer and the people they come into contact with. Recommended continuous wear time is less than 1 hourHSG53

NR

Protection with Unvalved Masks

NR

Protection with Valved Masks

NR

NR

Valved respirators filter against inhaled particles but not against particles that are exhaled, protecting only the wearer. Continuous wear time is 1 hourHSG53

Types of Filters

Debris, Dust, Fumes, Mists, Sprays, Micro-organisms, Smokes

Combination Filter

Gasses, Vapours

Types of Filters

Staff must be CLEAN SHAVEN at all times wearing any tight fitting RPE

You should remember that the same rule applies when you wear your facepiece on a day-to-day basis at work. This is because a reliable face seal can only be achieved if you are clean-shaven in the area where the facepiece seal touches your face.

DO NOT fit test people with facial hair, as this affects adequate face seal.

Please remember…

Some staff are unable to be Fit Tested or pass a Fit Test for a number of reasons:

• Facial hair• Facial disfigurements• Burns, scars, moles, piercings to the

area needed for a seal• Extremes in facial sizes or features• Surgery or dental work• Interference from hijab, glasses etc.

Staff nursing patients for lengthy periods may choose alternative protection for comfort reasons.

Loose fitting respirators are available from Full Support Healthcare.

Fit Testing is not for everyone

Fit Test Methods

The Fit Test

Staff MUST NOT eat, drink, vape/smoke or chew gum 30 minutes before the fit test.

Glasses/hearing aids/PPE worn for work, need to be worn for fit testing and documented.

Please remember

As a designated fit tester, make sure you have:

Pre Fit Test checklist Sensitivity & Fit Test Protocols Rainbow Passage Qualitative Respirator Fit Test

Report Fit test Register

Easimask®

Fit test kit & fit test solution with technical data sheet

A well ventilated room Water Stopwatch/Timer Examination Gloves

Preparation

1. Using the Pre Fit Test checklist, brief the person on why you are carrying out a fit test.

2. Explain that the fit test is 2 separate tests:

Sensitivity Test – Less than 1 minute.Allow at least 15 minutes or longer if required until the wearer can no longer taste the solution

Fit Test – 7 minutes

Preparation

Pour 2 cc of Sensitivity test solution into the nebuliser

Pour 2 cc of Fit Test solution into the nebuliser

NB: Please ensure that both the Sensitivity Test and Fit Test solutions match. Conduct both tests with Bitrex or both tests with Saccharine - do not mix and match.

Preparation

Part OneSensitivity Test

VIDEO

• Hold the sensitivity nebuliser up to a dark background and squeeze. Watch to see if spray comes out

• Remind the wearer to breathe through their mouth throughout the test

• The person will be inside the hood without a respirator on.

Sensitivity Test

• Spray the sensitivity solution into the hood, one puff at a time until the person can taste it

• Make a note of how many sprays it took for them to taste

• Give them a drink of water to clear the taste.

Sensitivity Test

If no taste after 30 doses, the test MUST

end and restart using an alternative solution.

No. ofsensitivity

sprays

Initial dose forFit Test

Top updose forFit Test

(every 30 seconds)

1-10 10 5

11-20 20 10

21-30 30 15

Sensitivity Test

No. ofsensitivity

sprays

Initial dose forFit Test

Top updose forFit Test

(every 30 seconds)

1-10 10 5

11-20 20 10

21-30 30 15

Sensitivity Test

No. ofsensitivity

sprays

Initial dose forFit Test

Top updose forFit Test

(every 30 seconds)

1-10 10 5

11-20 20 10

21-30 30 15

The Fit Test

No. ofsensitivity

sprays

Initial dose forFit Test

Top updose forFit Test

(every 30 seconds)

1-10 10 5

11-20 20 10

21-30 30 15

The Fit Test

Donning & Doffingthe respirator

FSM16 VIDEO

FSM18 VIDEO

Part TwoThe Fit Test

VIDEO

• The person should don a new Easimask®

• You should allow them to wear if for 5 minutes before the test.

Note: If your colleague can taste a strong bitter/sweet taste at any point during the test they must tell you – this will be the end of the fit test and a fail

Fit Test

• The person should put on the hood and breathe through their mouth

• You should spray the first dose into hood based on their sensitivity level – initial dose eg: 10, 20, 30 sprays

• Once the initial dose has been administered, start the timer and the first step of the fit test

• Spray top-up dose every 30 secondseg: 5, 10, 15 sprays

Fit Test

Remember to breathe through your mouth

After the initial injection of doses ask your colleague to perform the following test(s) for 60 seconds each:

1) Normal breathing: no head movement

2) Deep breathing: breathe slowly and deeply

3) Turn head side to side: slowly, inhale at each side.

4) Moving head up and down: slowly, inhale in an up and down position

Fit Test Exercises

5) Talking: read the rainbow passage out loud, or count backwards from 100

6) Bending over: bend at waist

7) Normal breathing: no head movement

8) Perform confidence test: Reach up into the hood, pull mask away from your face and see if you can taste the strong solution. This gives you the confidence in knowing that you’re protected.

Remember to breathe through your mouth

Fit Test Exercises (cont’d)

• The ‘Qualitative Fit Test Report’ contains all the required information to be HSE compliant

• Give one copy of the Fit Test Report to the person you have just fit tested

• Submit copies of all the Fit Test Reports to the relevant person within the Trust for record keeping (as per correct protocol within the Trust).

Passing the Test

John SmithCarpentryABC Construction10th June 2019

Passing the Test

Passing the Test

Easimask FSM18

Carpentry Pass 1st BL 10/04/17

• All fit tests need to be recorded as proof of compliance, whether you passed or failed

• Documented evidence of the results must be kept on-site for at least 5 years and up to 40 years under health surveillance.

Passing the Test

ABC ConstructionBrian Lavell

10th June 2019

John Smith FSM18

RPE fit testing should be carried out by a competent person. A fit tester should have adequate knowledge, and have received adequate instruction and training in the following areas:

1) selection of adequate and suitable RPE;2) examination of RPE and the ability to identify poorly maintained facepieces;3) ability to correctly fit a facepiece and perform pre-use wearer-seal checks;4) ability to recognise a poorly fitting facepiece;5) awareness of external factors that may affect the fit of the facepiece or the fit

test result;6) the purpose and applicability of fit testing;7) the differences between, and the appropriate use of, QNFT and QLFT

methods;

16 areas relating to competency

8) the purpose of the fit test exercises;9) preparation of facepieces for fit testing;10) how to carry out diagnostic checks on the facepiece and the fit test equipment;11) capabilities and limitations of the fit test equipment;12) how to perform a correct fit test with the chosen method;13) awareness and knowledge of how to prevent and correct problems during fit

testing;14) interpretation of fit test results;15) an understanding of the differences between fit factors, workplace protection

factors, assigned protection factors and nominal protection factors; and16) HSE Regulations and the Approved Codes of Practice that deal with fit testing

of RPE.

16 areas relating to competency

Consider loosefitting respirator

If your colleaguetastes the solution

during any of theexercises the

test is a fail

Recommend aminimum of 15minutes prior to retest

Don a new respirator mask and re-fit test

Only perform 2 tests on the same

make and model

If this fails,then another model of mask may be needed

If your colleague fails…