Rank: New forum user 
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Hi
Please can someone shed some light on this subject for me, the safety manager at my company has requested every member of staff that are on site take part in A face fit test on particle filter masks my understanding was that these tests are for use with respirators, as the dust masks will not stop tastes and odours coming through. When I asked him about this he flatly said that it must be done.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi, The HSE are currently running a campaign in assocation with the BSIF, its called "Clean Air?-Take Care!". I recently went to a HSE sponsored presentation and they gave out the packs. The message was that all forms of respritory protection are "face fit testable" and apart from those offering the lowest protection they should be. It is worth looking at the web sites and I am sure that your local HSE can provide you with a copy of the pack they handed. You will know thew HSE website, the BSIF website is www.bsif.co.uk. Hope this helps
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Yes relevant and valid for all types of RPE, but does he really want or need EVERYONE on Site to be tested?
What kind of site are you on?
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi there
We are currently doing this with all our site staff - we are an electrical company but our staff have to drill into building structures to fix containment and brackets etc. potentially exposing themselves to silica dust. We use disposable FFP3 masks and we are face fitting everyone. I have had this discussion with several HSE inspectors who work in construction and it's what they expect to happen. In addition some of the large contractors are asking for "certificates" of face fit testing. Which I will just make up with our logo on!
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Rank: Forum user
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Oh come on guys! FFP3 masks for silica dust? Testing to the standards of mists and virus exclusion for masks that need only exclude dusts? Totally ignoring MSDS WEL for silica dusts? Requirement for testing that is only applicable at time of testing and employing test substances that far exceed parameters of the hazard? You can educate these guys you know. By doing a risk assessment I have demonstrated that such measures are NOT required. I recently also, by dint of research, overturned a PC's requirement that "single use" 1-tonne bags must have handles cut off immediately after delivery to site. In fact even after exposue to UV for 3 months they could hold 3.5 tonnes! So a simple pre-use inspection was an adequate control measure.
Certainly use face-fit tests where the risk requires it but let's use commonsense. We are supposed to be professionals, it's time we educated those who aren't
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Rank: Forum user
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Mike, the HSE have been highlighting the dangers of silica dust through their clear the air campaign. They have also issued guidance to their inspector, SIM 02/2009/01 which clearly states the need to undertake facefit tests. I'd suggest that unless they relax this requirement in the light of new evidence then we professionals have no choice but to facefit test disposable FFP3 masks.
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Rank: Forum user
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YulKok wrote:Mike, the HSE have been highlighting the dangers of silica dust through their clear the air campaign. They have also issued guidance to their inspector, SIM 02/2009/01 which clearly states the need to undertake facefit tests. I'd suggest that unless they relax this requirement in the light of new evidence then we professionals have no choice but to facefit test disposable FFP3 masks.
SIM 02/2009/01 is for "The control of silica risks associated with kerb, paving and block cutting" not drilling into a wall to fix a bracket.
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Rank: Forum user
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I've not been directly involved in the issue of face fit testing myself. Is this covered by COSHH Reg 7. If we look at the ACOP to that Regulation, para 150, it covers what is required in terms of fit testing. My reading of that is that fit testing is required for tight fitting' face pieces. This will include the particle filter masks mentioned in the original question. It doesn't have to be a 'quantitative test'. A qualitative test will be sufficient.
MikeSweeney - just to check my understanding of what you are saying, are you arguing that such tests are not required in these circumstances? If so, how does this line up with the ACOP referenced above?
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Rank: Forum user
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Just to add my take on this -
Where RPE forms part of the control measures to protect the employee as recorded in the COSHH assessment then face-fit testing is required to ensure that the control measure is effective.
If the employees are not wearing the RPE correctly then it's effectiveness as a control measure must surely be in doubt.
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Rank: Forum user
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Having attended an HSE presentation on OH, I took the opportunity to enquire about face fit testing. The answer was very categorical, all forms of RPE should be face fit tested to the person this included FFP2 / 3 filtered dust masks. Irrespective of any Risk Assessment this is the policy that HSE are looking to enforce. The face fit process was very illuminating as the FFP3 masks were suitable for the majority, there were some whom it was not suitable for and the i/2 mask filtered was the mask they needed
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Rank: Forum user
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I draw all your attention to HSG53 RPE at Work, specfifically where wear times are indicated for non-powered half and full face masks (<1 hour), pages 36 to 39. Aside from the need to carry out face fit testing, what are others doing in respect of control measures to comply with this 'guidance'? Tens of thousands of workers in many industries up and down the land are wearing masks for more than an hour at a time, surely?
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Rank: Forum user
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In addition to the advice in HSG53 mentioned above therre is wealth of information in Information Document HSE 282/28, Fit testing of respiratory protective equipment facepieces.
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Rank: Forum user
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Have a look on the 3M web page all training for fit-to-fit free of charge providing you purchase their products, cost wise it is more beneficial to purchase theirs and the FP3 masks are reusable
Regards
Gary
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Isn't this a new requirement under the COSHH regulations for 'Face fit testing' for RPE.
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