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The following protocol is used by E&SSG in conducting fit testing on all employees: 1. The technician will provide the employee with the PLHCP recommendations prior to conducting the fit testing procedures. i. E&SSG will not fit test any employee that has not passed a medical clearance. ii. The employer shall provide to E&SSG a copy of the medical clearance prior to requesting fit tests. 2. The technician will review with the employee how to put on a respirator, how it should be positioned on the face, how to set strap tension and how to determine an acceptable fit. This instruction may not constitute the employee's formal training on respirator use, because it is only a review. 3. The test shall not be conducted if there is any hair growth between the skin and the face piece sealing surface, such as stubble beard growth, beard, mustache or sideburns which cross the respirator sealing surface. Any type of apparel which interferes with a satisfactory fit shall be altered or removed. 4. If an employee exhibits difficulty in breathing during the tests, she or he shall be referred to a physician or other licensed health care professional, as appropriate, to determine whether the test subject can wear a respirator while performing her or his duties. 5. Exercise regimen. Prior to the commencement of the fit test, the employee shall be given a description of the fit test and the employee's responsibilities during the test procedure. The description of the process shall include a description of the test exercises that the employee will be performing. The respirator to be tested shall be worn for a few minutes before the start of the fit test. 6. The fit test shall be performed while the employee is wearing any applicable safety equipment that may be worn during actual respirator use which could interfere with respirator fit. 7. Instruct the employee to be tested to don the respirator for a few minutes before the fit test starts. This purges the ambient particles trapped inside the respirator and permits the wearer to make certain the respirator is comfortable. This individual shall already have been trained on how to wear the respirator properly. 8. A record of the test needs to be kept on file, assuming the fit test was successful. The record must contain the employee’s name; overall fit factor; make, model, style, and size of respirator used; and date tested.
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