What is Face Fit Training and why is it important in Ireland?
Face fit training is all about ensuring the safety and efficiency of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) in the workplace. Face fit training is a way to ensure the correct selection of masks for workers who need to wear RPE and to be sure that the mask being used fits correctly. This ensures adequate protection for wearers of respiratory protective equipment from hazardous substances and other risks.
Face fit RPE is a vital way to protect employees and relies on ensuring a tight seal between the mask being worn and the wearer’s face. There must be continuous contact between the mask and the skin of the face, and this is a skill that must be taught and learned correctly. If RPE is not fitted correctly and fit tested, there is a risk of harm to the wearer.
Who needs to do Face fit Training?
Face fit testing training is suitable for anyone who wears a specific mask or particular type of RPE over the face. It’s also an ideal training course for anyone who is responsible for other workers or for overseeing health and safety protocol.
Why do a Face fit training?
Face fit testing is an essential way to protect workers by ensuring that wearing a correct fitting, suitable mask becomes standard practice. Training courses are designed to fit train the person wearing the mask so that those wearing masks and half masks are better protected from any substances hazardous at work. Face Fit training involves two types of mask testing – qualitative which examines potential leaks or faults with masks in relying on participants own senses i.e. sense of smell, and quantitative, which involves the use of equipment which gather information about the masks which is then analysed in a laboratory.
How do they do the Face fit test?
A face fit test relies on using the exact mask that you will use at work. The process of ensuring the face of the wearer is completely protected will be carried out using a bitter or sweet test solution and adjusting the mask until there is no movement and therefore no smell passes through the tight seal of the mask.
How often should you face fit?
Your face fit test certificate will apply only to the exact mask you have face fit tested during the course and we recommend taking a new test every two years.
How long is a face fit training course?
Our face fit testing is a short course that incorporates two hours of theory to fully understand fit testing and then a qualitative face fit test for each participant, which lasts around 35 minutes.
What topics are covered in the face fit training course?
Our comprehensive face fit tester course content includes all you need to fit and wear your own mask, including:
- Identifying respiratory hazards
- Understanding routes of exposure to harmful inhalants
- How to select your face fit testing kit equipment
- How to use FFP tight-fitting respirators
- How to use filter respirators, half mask and full mask respirators
- How to correctly put on and take off your Respiratory Protective Equipment. (RPE)
- What Face Fit testing is, why to do it, and how to do it
- The correct method of qualitative fit testing
Our program ensures that any worker using a mask can be certain that they are protected after passing a face fit test. Contact us for further information on Face Fit traning today.
