3M has voiced its support for the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) Fit2fit accreditation scheme for respirator face fit testers. Developed in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 3M said it had an active part in producing the syllabus and sits on the technical committee and the governing body of the scheme. Fit testing is a requirement of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002, It is required to make sure respiratory protective equipment (RPE) incorporating a tight-fitting facepiece can fit the wearer well, helping to ensure they are correctly protected.However, due to different face shapes and sizes, tight-fitting facepieces do not always fit all wearers adequately. Fit testing by a competent person identifies wearers who cannot achieve a good fit with a particular facepiece so they can be provided with an alternative model. Although not a legal requirement, the Fit2fit scheme is designed to confirm the competency of any person performing fit testing by passing an industry recognised assessment, based on the competencies required by the HSE.
The assessment includes a multiple choice exam and a demonstration of a practical fit test to show that participants have a thorough knowledge of the HSE guidance on fit testing and can put it into practice. A Fit2fit accreditation proves that a fit test service provider has been independently assessed and can operate to the standard required. It also gives employers a means of assessing the competencies of their in-house fit testers.
