Rank: Forum user 
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Can someone put me straight on something?
My local PPE supplier has paid me a visit saying that I should be considering face fit testing for all disposal dust masks purchased.
I appreciate the need for formal face fit testing on tight fitting respirators, full face masks etc. But paper dust masks?
Surely this is something I can do in-house? We already instruct our employees on how to wear a dust mask correctly through a Standard Operating Procedure.
Any help would be gratefully received. Thanks
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Rank: Forum user
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This has come up before, and will probably keep coming up.
It may seem strange that face fitting is required for disposable masks, but it is.
It all stems from the following regulation hidden away in COSHH.
the following are my notes on the subject.
Legislation
The requirements for Face Fit Testing are described in the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) supporting:
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
• The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2006
• The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002
Where it is recommended that fit testing be carried out as part of the PRE initial selection process to ensure that the selected RPE has the potential to provide adequate protection.
COSHH
The extracts below are taken from the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, 2002 (as amended):
COSHH (2002), Regulation 7, Prevention or control of exposure to substances hazardous to health.
Guidance, paragraph 149, “The performance of RPE with a tight-fitting facepiece depends on a good contact between the wearer’s skin and the face seal of the mask. A good face seal can only be achieved if the wearer is clean shaven in the area of the face seal and the facepiece is of the correct size and shape to fit the wearer’s face…… ”
ACOP, paragraph 150, “Employers should ensure that the selected facepiece (tight and loose fitting type) is of the right size and can correctly fit each wearer. For a tight-fitting facepiece (filtering facepieces usually known as disposable masks, half and full face masks) the initial selection should include fit testing to ensure the wearer has the correct device. The test will assess the fit by determining the degree of face seal leakage of a test agent while the RPE user is wearing the facepiece under test…..”
ACOP, paragraph 151, “Repeat testing will be needed when changing to a different model of RPE or a different sized facepiece of is there have been significant changes to the facial characteristics of the individual wearer, eg as a result of significant weight gain or loss or due to dentistry….”
HSG 53
Health and Safety Guidance Note No. 53, “The Selection Use and Maintenance of Respiratory Protective Equipment,” 2004, paragraph 52 states,
“You should ensure that the wearers of tight fitting facepieces have undergone facepiece testing. This is needed to ensure that the selected facepiece can fit the wearer correctly. You should use facepiece testing as a tool to show consequences to performance of poor fitting and misuse. It is also a good tool for screening out incompatible RPE…”
HSE OC 282/28
This updated 2 part Operational Circular, “Fit Testing of Respiratory Protective Equipment Facepieces”, gives practical advice on the inspection of the suitability of RPE fit testing methods and the meaning of the results generated.
Rodger Ker
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Rank: Forum user
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dudz, yes i agree google face fit testing uk and you will get all the info required www.sphererhsm.co.uk
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks folks.
I'll dutifully arrange for the testing to be done.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Well, yes and no.
What are these "dust masks"? If they are simple ungraded masks, 'nuisance' masks, there is surely no need to confirm by fit testing. However, a competent and properly justified RA should have preceded the use of these cheap and widely used masks. Without that, you are up the creek if things go wrong
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Rank: Forum user
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Just the regular 'nuisance' dust masks, a P1 unvalved mask.
The PPE supplier (who shall remain anonymous) was most insistent.
Our risk assessments recognise that dust is present when cleaning down machinery, and whilst we have undertaken personal dosimetry testing and found the levels to be below EH40 limits - we still offer dust masks to employees should they wish to wear them.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Note it is not just enough to keep the dust levels below the OEL in EH40 but to keep exposure as low as reasonably practicable.
I my opinion no such thing as nuisance masks in the workplace. If staff require, because of the risks to health they become RPE and then it needs to be correctly fitted and checked which means face fit testing
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Rank: Forum user 
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Dudz,
past company I worked for I arranged for an external company to carry out "Fit testing" using a Porta counter. Although was costly, provided us with data and certification of types of mask and protection levels achieved.
In conversation with their expert it was discussed that they would not fit test a P1 due to the protection levels being low and the sensitivity of their equipment. This was not to suggest that P1 masks should not be tested, just that anything lower than a P2 could not provide suitable readings of measurement.
I can provide you contact details if you would like.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Dudz - may I suggest that if your risk assessment has identified the dust as a potential health hazard and you supply the masks - then your duty of care would surely be to make sure your staff are protected by making them wear them?
David
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Rank: Forum user
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I have recently purchased a face fit testing kit for our company, we intend to carry out our own testing and do in house certification. The reason for this was that i sent a few of our guys for a face fit, the company carring out the fitting, merely tried a mask on our chaps, made it fit, issued a certificate, then told them to go purchase the same mask as it fitted. How the hell does that work?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rick - please slow down mate.
Most suppliers of the face testing kits will train you on how to do it correctly and will supervise several tests once tou start.
Please ensure you are trained and certified for the sake of yourself and your workforce.
Regards
David
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Rank: Forum user
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3M provide free training provided you purchase their product, with re-usable masks as well works out quite reasonable
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Rank: Forum user
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Hello
face fit testing is required to be carried out on every make and model of respirator issued to ensure that the wearer is protected as peoples faces are all different there are two types of face fit a quantitative using a porta count machine or Qualitative fit testing is a simple pass/fail test based on the wearer's subjective assessment of the leakage, via the face seal region, of a test agent. These tests are relatively simple to perform and are suitable for half-masks and filtering face piece (disposable) respirators which you could carry out yourself with the correct training the kits cost around £100 and can be obtained from Arco
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