Good morning all,

I am looking for advice and direction regarding face fit testers and their testing qualification.

Can any one tell me how often a Face Fit Tester should be requalified?

I am getting mixed messages depending on my sources and as it stands, it appears that face fit testers need to refresh/resit the qualification every three (3) years, but I can not find anything that confirms this.

The HSE direction provides information on the need/format/recording/method etc of employees who require face fitting, but is somewhat lacking when it comes to saying 'if you conduct face fitting, you need to be refreshed/requlified every XX years'.

As always, any strong advice or guidance from my peer group is gratefully appreciated. 

Hi,

Both HSG53 Respiratory Equipment at Work and HSE OC 282/28 state:

'RPE fit testing should be conducted by a competent person. Competence can be demonstrated through achieving accreditation under the ‘Fit2Fit RPE Fit Test Providers Accreditation Scheme’. This Scheme has been developed by the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) together with industry stakeholders and is supported by HSE. The scheme is not compulsory and employers are free to take other action to comply with the law. One way employers can demonstrate good practice is by ensuring that the fit tester is appropriately accredited, for the type of service they offer, by the Fit2Fit scheme. Further details on the scheme can be found at the web site: http://www.fit2fit.org'

To determine whether someone is competent they should be able to demonstrate the necessary skills, knowledge, training and experience. By maintaining CPD and undertaking regular face fit testing of operatives following the correct industry guidance and maintaining CPD should be enough to help demonstrate competence. Individuals who carry out the testing may wish as part of their CPD to undertake a 'refresher' of how to fit test, but there is no legal requirement for them to do so. Fit to Fit may suggest a refresher period, but again it is not mandatory to be a member of this organisation to be able to demonstrate competence or indeed undertake fit testing.

I hope that helps.