·       Questions to be aware of regarding Respiratory FIT testing and/or PFT Spirometry testing, and the mandatory Medical evaluation questionnaire prior to FIT testing.

1.     The respirator medical clearance process performed by KSA consists of the following components: • Review of completed OSHA respirator questionnaire by a qualified health care provider. If indicated by the responses on the OSHA respirator questionnaire, the following may be completed: • Vital signs • Medical history • Physical examination • Pulmonary function testing (spirometry) followed by the Respiratory FIT test.

2.     Type of Respirator, full face or half face or Disposable and what it is being used for? Paint? Emergency, chemical (what type) etc.

3.     Qualitative or Quantitative FIT testing? Type of FIT testing required: Qualitative fit testing is a pass/fail test method that uses your sense of taste or smell, or your reaction to an irritant in order to detect leakage into the respirator facepiece. Qualitative fit testing does not measure the actual amount of leakage. Whether the respirator passes or fails the test is based simply on you detecting leakage of the test substance into your facepiece usually utilizing a hood over the head with respirator on. Quantitative fit testing uses a machine to measure the actual amount of leakage into the face-piece and does not rely upon your sense of taste, smell, or irritation in order to detect leakage. The respirators used during this type of fit testing will have a probe attached to the face-piece that will be connected to the machine by a hose.

4.     PFT’s Spirometry required? AS part of the fit testing? Or as Medical Surveillance? And if for Medical Surveillance what for? or as part of medical exam with questionnaire for FIT testing?

5.     OSHA respirator medical questionnaire

Before donning a respirator, employees must be medically cleared to wear a respirator by a physician or other licensed healthcare professional. As part of the medical clearance process, a medical questionnaire is required to be answered by the employee. The questionnaire is confidential and has questions related to the employee’s health history and focuses on the task in which the employee is required to wear the respirator. The physician or other licensed healthcare professional will make the determination if the employee is physically fit to wear a respirator.

To save you time, money, and the hassle of coordinating clinic appointments OR Onsite testing on your schedule, KSA evaluates and reviews the medical evaluation of respirator wearers as required by the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134**), prior to the FIT testing procedure.

You must be fit tested before you use a respirator in the workplace, and you must be retested at least every 12 months to make sure that the respirator you use still fits you. You must be fit tested with the specific make, model, style, and size of respirator that you will be using.

You have questions? We have answers. We test onsite 24/7/365 on your schedule

Call KSA Occupational Services. 615-426-9556

Dr. Michael Tigges