As many of you know, I love to use other codes and standards that take my programs above and beyond OSHA minimums. That even includes using standards and codes from other countries. One area of safety that we can easily achieve a level above OSHA minimums is our “fit factors.” We know that OSHA has established the minimum fit factors as:
Half Face = 100
Full Face = 500
But OSHA only cares about the OVERALL fit factor achieved, and these levels are EXTREMELY LOW. We could use the UK’s HSE requirements without any major issues.
They require that EACH stage of the QNFT passes with a fit factor of 1,000. Most users can easily achieve this level of a fit, and anyone not able should be re-evaluated and tested with a different brand and/or size facepiece.
BOTTOM LINE: We can establish our Fit Factors as long as they are above the OSHA minimums. Most of my former employers at least established higher fit factors for those using respirators inside IDLH and/or Emergency Response situations.
Tidbit: In 1980 when OSHA personnel were tested on full-face APR’s their Fit Factor had to be 1,000! Source: Journal of the International Society for Respiratory Protection, Vol. 21