Complying with OSHA's New Respirator Standard
Table 2. Acceptable Fit-Testing Methods

Contributed by Mark Bordelon, Environmental Resources Management, Irvine, California

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  QLFT QNFT
Half-Face, Negative Pressure, APR (<100 fit factor) Yes Yes
Full-Face, Negative Pressure, APR (<100 fit factor) used in atmospheres up to 10 times the PEL Yes Yes
Full-Face, Negative Pressure, APR (>100 fit factor) No Yes
Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) Yes Yes
Supplied-Air Respirators (SAR), or SCBA used in Negative Pressure (Demand Mode [>100 fit factor]) No Yes
SAR, or SCBA used in Positive Pressure (Pressure Demand Mode) Yes Yes
SCBA - Structural Fire Fighting, Positive Pressure Yes Yes
SCBA/SAR - IDLH, Positive Pressure Yes Yes
Mouthbit Respirators Fit-Testing Not Required Fit-Testing Not Required
Loose-Fitting Respirators (e.g., hoods, helmets) Fit-Testing Not Required

This table is a supplement to: Complying with OSHA's New Respirator Standard

Contributed by Mark Bordelon, Environmental Resources Management, Irvine, California

This feature article was originally published in EM Online, an Internet Magazine for Environmental Managers. It is brought to you by ChemAlliance through an exclusive redistribution agreement with the Air & Waste Management Association (www.awma.org). Under the terms of this agreement, the article may not be copied, saved, e-mailed, sold, rewritten for broadcast, or redistributed in any form.

Copyright 1999, Air & Waste Management Association, All Rights Reserved

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