Hi I'm relatively new to H&S and have been tasked with researching the above requirement. My query is that, after having had air quality testing carried out within our (adhesive) spray booth area (water-based DCM free spray adhesive), we were advised that RPE was not required to be mandatory (providing the booths are regularly maintained). We also carry out annual lung function testing on production staff. However, an external consultant recently asked us what our contingency plans were, should we have a failure on the spray booths and suggested that we face-fit all our staff just incase. Can anyone provide any advice as to whether there is a requirement to face-fit test, under the circumstances?

Hi A Thanks for your response - We only have 3 spray booths in the production dept, which are used for larger pieces of spraying or batch spraying. Smaller amounts of spraying can be carried out by individuals at their benches, using spray cans (DCM free). At present, providing only small quantities of spraying is done with cans (at benches), RPE is not required - However were the booths to stop working, its likely in the interim, we would ask the guys to spray more using the cans at their benches. Its this scenario where they may be likely to need to wear RPE - But this wouldn't be an everyday situation, which was why I questioned the need for face-fit testing.

There would seem to be a fundamental flaw in the argument. In the event of failure of controls, you plan to revert to PPE only and keep something near like-for-like production going? IMO that just doesn't compute.