Respirator Fit Testing & Complete Respiratory Protection Services
One provider. One coordinated program. Practical OSHA compliance support for your workforce.
- N95 / FFR
- Half-face
- Full-face
- Employer programs
One Stop Shop for OSHA Respiratory Protection Compliance
Respiratory protection should not require an employer to coordinate separate vendors for every step. BIW Safety brings respirator fit testing, worker training, respiratory protection program support, respirator selection guidance and medical-evaluation coordination together as a practical one-stop resource. Whether your employees use filtering facepiece respirators such as N95s, elastomeric half-face respirators or full-face respirators, our goal is to help you move from “we need fit tests” to a documented program your workers can understand and use.
Respirator Fit Testing for N95/FFR, Half-Face & Full-Face Respirators
OSHA requires fit testing before initial use of a required tight-fitting respirator, whenever a different facepiece is used, and at least annually thereafter. BIW Safety can support employers whose workers use filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs), elastomeric half-mask respirators and full-face respirators, using an OSHA-accepted qualitative or quantitative method as appropriate for the respirator and use conditions.
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Qualitative fit testing
Pass/fail testing using an OSHA-accepted qualitative protocol when appropriate for the respirator and required protection level.
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Quantitative fit testing
Instrument-based testing that produces a numerical fit factor for tight-fitting respirators when quantitative testing is selected or required.
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Respirator program support
Written program support, respirator selection, program-administrator guidance, records and practical implementation assistance.
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Worker training
Donning and doffing, seal checks, limitations, care, maintenance and the workplace-specific information workers need to use respirators correctly.
Medical Evaluation Support, Training & Written Respiratory Protection Programs
A fit test is only one part of an OSHA-compliant respiratory protection program. Employers that require respirator use must address the written program, medical evaluation before fit testing or use, proper respirator selection, employee training, maintenance and program evaluation. BIW Safety can help employers coordinate these pieces so the program is usable in the field rather than just a document on a shelf.
Why Businesses Choose BIW Safety for Respiratory Protection
- 30 years Safety and industrial hygiene services supporting employers and workers.
- 5,000+ fit tests Experience with filtering facepiece, half-face and full-face respirators.
- Specialized credentials Certified Respiratory Protection Specialists and Certified Hazardous Materials Manager expertise.
- Advanced education Master’s-level education in occupational health and industrial hygiene.
- Industrial hygiene practice Certified Industrial Hygiene Practitioner experience applied to real workplace exposures.
- Practical training Hands-on guidance designed to help workers understand how to wear, check and maintain respiratory protection.
Qualitative & Quantitative Respirator Fit Testing
The correct fit-test method depends on the respirator, the protection required and the employer’s respiratory protection program. BIW Safety can help employers choose and document the appropriate method for the respirator being used.
Qualitative
A pass/fail method that relies on the wearer’s response to a test agent. Accepted for respirators and protection levels where a numerical fit factor is not required.
Quantitative
An instrument measures face-seal leakage and produces a numerical fit factor. Used when quantitative testing is selected by the employer or required for the protection level.
What Employers Need to Know Before Fit Testing
- Employees who are required to wear tight-fitting respirators must be medically evaluated before fit testing or required respirator use.
- Workers should be fit tested with the same make, model, style and size of tight-fitting respirator they will use at work.
- Fit testing is required before initial use, when the respirator facepiece changes, and at least annually; additional testing may be needed when physical changes could affect fit.
- Facial hair or other conditions that interfere with the sealing surface can prevent a tight-fitting respirator from sealing correctly.
- Fit testing does not replace employee training, routine user seal checks, proper cartridge or filter selection, maintenance, or the written respiratory protection program.
Respiratory Protection for High-Hazard and Regulated Workplaces
Respiratory protection needs vary by hazard and industry. BIW Safety supports businesses that need practical respiratory protection for the work their crews actually do, tailored to the respirators employees wear and the hazards the employer has identified.
- Construction
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- Mining
- Fabrication
- Maintenance
- Hazardous-material work
- General industry
Get Your Team Fit Tested and OSHA-Ready
Need fit testing for one worker, a crew or an employer-wide respiratory protection program? Contact BIW Safety to discuss the respirators your employees use, the number of workers, your schedule and whether you also need program support, training or medical-evaluation coordination.