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CONCDIM Corporate Safety Program HSP-2. Respiratory Protection °°°1• °° Rev. 1 08/23/2018 Fit testing of tight-fitting atmosphere-supplying respirators and tight-fitting powered air-purifying respirators shall be accomplished by performing QLFTs or QNFTs in the negative pressure mode, regardless of the mode of operation (negative or positive pressure)that is used for respiratory protection. Qualitative fit testing of these respirators shall be accomplished by temporarily converting the respirator user's actual facepiece into a negative pressure respirator with appropriate filters, or by using an identical negative pressure air-purifying respirator facepiece with the same sealing surfaces as a surrogate for the atmosphere-supplying or powered air-purifying respirator facepiece. Quantitative fit testing of these respirators shall be accomplished by modifying the facepiece to allow sampling inside the facepiece in the breathing zone of the user, midway between the nose and mouth. This requirement shall be accomplished by installing a permanent sampling probe onto a surrogate facepiece, or by using a sampling adapter designed to temporarily provide a means of sampling air from inside the facepiece. Any modifications to the respirator facepiece for fit testing must be completely removed, and the facepiece restored to NIOSH-approved configuration, before that facepiece can be used in the workplace. 6.3.1 Positive/Negative Pressure Test Individual fit testing should include demonstration and practice in good fitting, adjustment and use as recommended by the manufacturer. Employees should be clean-shaven in the area of respirator contact to ensure a leakproof fit. Employees should perform a positive and negative pressure test each time the respirator is worn. Positive Pressure Test—Test subject dons respirator (with cartridges installed), places hand over exhalation valve and lightly blows. If respirator pushes away from face with no air leaks, a good fit is indicated. The purpose is to ensure a tight face fit when exhaling. Negative Pressure Test—With respirator on, test subject places one hand over each filter inlet and sucks in. If respirator pulls tightly toward face, a good fit is indicated. 6.3.2 Fit Test Protocol Using lsoamyl Acetate Both positive and negative test should be passed by finding the proper size and brand of respirator before conducting the qualitative fit test procedure using isoamyl acetate (IAA), which smells like banana oil. This test should be done by the HSPM or SHSO. The industry standard procedure for the IAA test is as follows: • A fit test chamber shall be used to fit respirators. It should be similar to a clear plastic 55-gallon drum liner suspended inverted over a 2-foot diameter frame, so that the top of the test chamber is about 6 inches above the test subject's head. Attach a hook to the inside top center of the frame. • Each respirator must be equipped with organic vapor cartridges or offer protection against organic vapors. • After donning and properly adjusting a respirator, the test subject shall wear the respirator for at least five to ten minutes before starting the test. • Upon entering the test chamber, the subject shall be given a 6-inch by 5-inch piece of absorbent single-ply material (paper towel) to fold in half and wet with 0.75 cubic centimeter of pure IAA, or a small crushable glass ampoule of IAA. The test subject then hangs the wet material on the hook at the top of the chamber. Allow two minutes for the IAA test concentration to be reached before starting the test outlined below. (Approximately 150 parts per million [ppm].) • Ask the subject to perform the following fit test maneuvers for at least one minute each. (This list of maneuvers should be taped to the inside of the chamber.) a. Normal breathing; b. Deep breathing; C. Turning head from side to side (complete movements); Page 7 of 13