|
| Respiratory Medical Evaluation and Fit Testing |
Respiratory medical evaluation aims to determine a person’s ability to perform regular tasks upon wearing respirators and protective equipments. These tests are particularly useful for employers who need to find out whether the physical demands of the job can be met inspite of wearing the respiratory equipment.
Respirators are primarily used for avoiding inhalation of dangerous airborne particles, or in environments where there is lack of sufficient oxygen. The respirators can be used within industries emitting toxic substances within the facility, which could be inhaled by the employees. It could also be used in laboratories where the lab environment has to be kept devoid of human contamination or human breath. It can be used at high altitudes to provide additional oxygen for breathing.
Physicians need to determine whether a person is physically and mentally fit to effectively use a respirator and tolerate the excess strain. The respiratory medical evaluation comprises of a medical questionnaire that is answered by the person using the respiratory protective devices for occupational purposes. The questionnaire determines factors such as fitness and health of the individual, work specifications and the type of respirator that needs to be used.
Respiratory medical evaluation is particularly useful when an individual shows signs of fatigue due to the continued usage of respirator. Due to the additional weight and handling requirements of the respirator, an individual might not be able to perform his daily duties efficiently. Physicians may also evaluate an individual based on the medical questionnaire, and determine a need for further evaluation due to uncertainties. Respiratory medical evaluations can also be redone in case of issues during fit testing of respirators.
Fit testing of respirators is done in order to check whether a particular respirator is suitable for an individual. Fit testing can be either quantitative or qualitative in nature. Respirators that use a face to mask seal need to be tested regularly in order to detect leakage. A quantitative fit test identifies a leakage using certain measuring equipment. A qualitative fit test depends primarily on the individual’s ability to sense a change in smell or taste when exposed to the test agent.
The working environment of the individual using the respirator usually determines the type of fit test used. In cases when the environment contains pollutants less than ten times the limit for occupational exposure, a qualitative or a quantitative fit test is acceptable. In cases where the exposure levels are too high, a quantitative fit test is mandatory. For respirators that are tight fitting or air purifying, a negative pressure environment is used along with qualitative or quantitative fit tests.
A physician assesses the mental and physical ability of an individual to wear and use a particular type of respiratory protective device based on the mental and physical health of the individual. The physician also takes into account the type of respirator being used, along with its dimensions, weight and physiological effects. The physician includes the environment in which the respirator will be used, and other factors such as duration of use and workload for concluding the respiratory evaluation assessment and fit testing.
References:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/respiratory/oshafiles/fittesting1.html
|
 |
| |
| |
|
