OSHA Compliance and Employee Safety

Employees in healthcare, defense, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and public safety must wear respirators to protect against airborne contaminants. OSHA Compliance and Employee Safety regulations help employers meet health, safety, and legal standards.

Employers in respirator-required workplaces must document a respiratory protection program and conduct regular fit testing for proper respirator fit.

OSHA’s Respirator Protection Standard

OSHA has set specific regulations for respirator use across industries: General Industry (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134), Maritime (OSHA 29 CFR 1915.154, 1917.92, 1918.102), & Construction: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.103).

These regulations require employers to provide properly fitted respirators and implement a respiratory protection program, including respirator selection, training, and fit testing.

Why Respirators and Proper Fit Testing Matter

Respirators are vital protective devices that filter out harmful particles, gasses, vapors, mists, or pathogens from the air. Prolonged exposure to these hazards can lead to serious health issues, including lung diseases, cancer, and even death.

There are two primary types of respirators: air-purifying respirators, which filter contaminated air from the environment and air-supplied respirators, which provide clean air from an external source.

For a respirator to provide effective protection, proper fit is crucial. A poorly fitted respirator won’t form a tight seal, which compromises its ability to protect the wearer. The Assigned Protection Factor (APF)—which indicates the level of protection a respirator provides—is only valid if the respirator passes a fit test.

When are Fit Tests required?

Employers must conduct fit tests before initial respirator use, when employees switch to a new respirator, after significant physical changes (e.g., weight loss or facial surgery), and annually.

Types of Fit Testing:

• Qualitative Fit Tests: Rely on the wearer detecting a specific taste or smell to assess fit.
• Quantitative Fit Tests: Use precision instruments to measure leakage and provide more precise, objective results.

For optimal accuracy and compliance, CSS recommends quantitative respirator fit testing, as it ensures the respirator fits properly and provides the required protection.

Industry-Leading Respirator Fit Testing Equipment 

To remain compliant with OSHA standards, it’s essential to use reliable, high-quality respirator fit testing devices. At CSS, we offer industry leading quantitative respirator fit testing equipment both for rent or for sale. Our equipment allows you to accurately evaluate respirator fit and ensure your workplace meets OSHA compliance and employee safety regulations. 

• AccuTec’s AccuFIT 9000 Pro:

     Accutec’s AccuFIT 9000 PRO is an advanced Quantitative Respirator Fit test system that tests full and half-face respirators, including N95s. It completes fit tests in just 2.5 minutes and uses real-time particle counting to measure leakage and provide precise fit factor results. The intuitive touch screen guides users through the process, ensuring a seamless fit test experience.

• AccuTec’s AccuFIT 9000:

  Accutec’s AccuFIT 9000 is a Quantitative Respirator Fit test system for full and half-face tight-fitting respirators. It is OSHA-compliant with the Fast-Fit protocol, completing tests in 2.5 minutes. The system uses real-time particle counting to measure leakage and provide accurate fit factor results. The intuitive touch screen guides users through the process. Note: The AccuFIT 9000 does not test N95 respirators; choose the 9000 PRO model for N95 testing.

• TSI PortaCount Pro 8038:

  The TSI PortaCount Pro 8038 is an advanced fit testing system that ensures respirator fit and OSHA compliance. It uses real-time particle counting to measure leakage and provide accurate fit factor results. Ideal for N95, P100, half-face, and full-face respirators, the PortaCount Pro 8038 offers precise testing for various respirator types.

• TSI PortaCount 8048:

  The TSI PortaCount Pro 8048 is an advanced, high-performance respirator fit testing system that offers quantitative testing with real-time particle counting technology. The device provides precise fit factor readings for various respirators, including N95, P100, and other tight-fitting models. It is especially effective in environments that require regular fit testing. enhanced features, the PortaCount Pro 8048 is ideal for workplaces that need to conduct thorough and frequent fit tests across multiple employees.

CSS Can Provide You High-Quality Respirator Fit Testing Equipment 

At CSS, we provide industry leading respirator fit testing equipment both for rental and for sale. We guarantee a simplified rental experience, which means we make it easy for you to stay in compliance and keep your employees safe. Renting from us means access to the youngest fleet of rental instruments that help you maintain compliance with OSHA’s respiratory protection standards. Contact CSS today to find the right respirator fit testing equipment for your workplace and ensure your employees’ safety. Contact us at (720) 303-1777 or click the link below to request a quote today: https://compliancesafetysupply.com/request-quote/ 

CSS: Compliance, Safety, & Supply

Years of industry experience motivate our timely, reliable equipment delivery while providing top-quality gear, so you can focus on getting the job done. 

CSS: Compliance, Safety, & Supply

4800 Dahlia St C9, Denver, CO 80216

www.compliancesafetysupply.com

(720) 303-1777

service@compliancesafetysupply.com