When it comes to workplace safety, ensuring that employees can breathe easily and safely is critical — especially in environments where respiratory hazards are present. Two key tests play an essential role in safeguarding workers: respirator fit testing and pulmonary function testing. Understanding the difference between these tests is crucial for employers to protect their employees. Let’s break down what each test involves and when they are required.
What is Respirator Fit Testing
Respirator fit testing (RFT) is a procedure used to confirm that a respirator properly fits an individual, forming an effective seal against the face. This ensures that harmful substances — like airborne particles, vapors, or gases — don’t leak through and are instead filtered out, keeping the wearer safe. Fit testing is required for employees who must wear tight-fitting respirators as part of their job, and is common in industries like:
- Healthcare
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Energy, oil, and gas
- Chemical manufacturing and handling
- Pharmaceutical
- Cannabis
- Military
- … and more
When Are Employers Required to Conduct Respirator Fit Testing?
According to OSHA’s respiratory protection standard, employers beholden to the standard are required to conduct respirator fit testing in several scenarios:
- Before the first use of a respirator
- Annually, to ensure continued protection
- Whenever an employee undergoes changes, like significant weight loss or facial surgery, that might affect the fit of the respirator
Failure to conduct proper fit testing can lead to leaks in the respirator’s seal, putting employees at risk of exposure to harmful contaminants, and your company at risk of being fined by OSHA — to the tune of over $16,000 per violation.
Two Types of Respirator Fit Testing: Qualitative and Quantitative
There are two methods of respirator fit testing:
- Qualitative Fit Testing: This is a pass/fail method that relies on the wearer’s sensory detection of an irritant or odor to determine whether the respirator fits properly. It’s typically used for half-face respirators, such as N95s.
- Quantitative Fit Testing: This method uses specialized equipment to measure the exact amount of leakage into the respirator. It provides a more precise fit assessment and is the required testing method for full-face respirators or when higher levels of protection are necessary.
What is Pulmonary Function Testing?
Pulmonary function testing (PFT) is a set of tests that assess how well the lungs are working by measuring lung capacity and airflow. The most common type of PFT is spirometry testing, which measures how well a person can move air in and out of their lungs. Spirometry tests are critical for evaluating respiratory health, particularly in medical surveillance programs and for determining a worker’s ability to perform certain tasks. It measures the amount of air a person can exhale, how quickly they can empty their lungs, and the relationship between these factors.
How PFT is Used in Occupational Health
In occupational settings, pulmonary function tests play an essential role in protecting workers from respiratory hazards. Here are a few key ways PFTs are used:
- Establishing a baseline: Before assigning a worker to a job that may expose them to respiratory hazards, a PFT can establish baseline lung function, helping to identify potential future declines.
- Tracking lung function over time: PFTs can be used to track changes in a worker’s lung function, ensuring early detection of any exposure-related respiratory issues.
- Evaluating workers with symptoms: For workers experiencing respiratory symptoms, PFTs are a valuable tool in diagnosing conditions like asthma, COPD, or other lung diseases.
PFT in Regulatory Compliance
OSHA standards for substances such as asbestos, beryllium, cadmium, coke oven emissions, and cotton dust require pulmonary function testing as part of medical survelliance programs. Medical surveillance in the context of pulmonary function testing refers to a proactive approach employers take to monitor the health of workers who are exposed to the specified respiratory hazards in the workplace. It involves regular health assessments, including pulmonary function testing, to detect early signs of work-related health issues.
Additionally, pulmonary function testing is mandated for jobs that involve formaldehyde, benzene, and silica exposure when respirators are used. Furthermore, OSHA recommends PFT for anyone exposed to lung hazards, a physically demanding job, or wearing a respirator for work.
By utilizing PFT, employers can make informed decisions about job assignments, personal protective equipment (PPE), and monitor workers’ respiratory health over time, ensuring compliance with OSHA standards and protecting worker health.
PFT vs. RFT: Similar, but Different
Pulmonary function testing and respirator fit testing are both essential components of workplace safety, particularly in environments where respiratory health and protection are critical. However, they serve different purposes and are used in different contexts.
Similarities of PFT and RFT
- Workplace Safety: Both tests are part of ensuring the health and safety of workers, particularly in environments where respiratory hazards exist.
- Compliance: They help employers meet OSHA standards and regulatory requirements.
- Focus on Respiratory Health: Each test evaluates aspects of an employee’s ability to work safely in conditions that may impact lung function or require respiratory protection.
Differences Between PFT and Respirator Fit Testing
| Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) | Respirator Fit Testing |
| Purpose: Evaluates overall lung function and respiratory health, often used to determine if a worker can safely perform tasks in environments with respiratory risks. | Purpose: Ensures that a respirator fits properly and provides adequate protection by forming a seal on the worker’s face. |
| Type of Test: Medical test, commonly using spirometry to measure lung capacity and airflow. | Type of Test: A fit test that checks the effectiveness of a respirator seal (qualitative or quantitative methods). |
| When It’s Required: OSHA requires PFTs in medical surveillance programs for exposure to specific substances (asbestos, cadmium, formaldehyde, etc.) or when respiratory health is in question. | When It’s Required: OSHA mandates respirator fit testing whenever a worker needs to wear a tight-fitting respirator for protection from airborne hazards. |
| Use Case: Helps determine if a worker is healthy enough to work in environments with respiratory hazards or wear respiratory protection. | Use Case: Confirms that a respirator fits properly and will protect the worker from airborne contaminants. |
| Ongoing Monitoring: PFTs are part of continuous medical surveillance to track lung health over time. | One-Time/Annual Requirement: Fit testing must be performed before initial respirator use and repeated annually or when changes affect fit. |
While both tests are vital to worker safety, pulmonary function testing focuses on evaluating lung health, whereas respirator fit testing ensures the effectiveness of protective equipment.
Streamline Compliance and Testing with Mobile Health
Whether you need respirator fit testing, pulmonary function testing, or both, Mobile Health can help streamline testing and compliance. We have the clinical expertise and decades of experience to make it an easier, faster process for you and your employees. Plus, you’ll keep your employees safe, and avoid unnecessary downtime.
Contact Mobile Health with your interest and pain points, and we’ll talk about the ways we can make fit testing, PFT, or any of your other occupational health needs better.
