Ensuring the Right fit in all Situations

It is as important as ever that healthcare professionals protect themselves from potential infection and ensure that swine flu continues to have a low impact and the number of cases continue to fall.

The Department of Health and Health Protection Agency (HPA) guidance recommends that healthcare workers wear a surgical mask if they come into close contact with a person with symptoms (within one metre), to reduce their risk of catching the virus from patients. The guidance on pandemic influenza also states that FFP3 respirators should be used by all employees carrying out aerosol generating procedures and those employees should be fit tested to ensure that the specific model of respirator used provides an adequate fit to the individual’s face.

A fit test demonstrates the quality of fit of the facepiece to the wearer’s face. There are several ways to perform a fit test. However, two methods are generally used in the workplace: either a qualitative taste test or a quantitative particle counting test. The taste test uses a fit test kit that contains a hood and bitter or sweet tasting solution, which is administered by the tester. If the test is successful, the wearer will not be able to taste the test solution.

3M has launched a new page on its Occupational Health and Environmental Safety (OH&ES) website. The page has been designed to support the increased volume of enquiries received and provide advice for healthcare professionals.

The specially designed web page provides a wealth of information to support the implementation of a respirator fit testing programme within a healthcare environment and includes a practical guide to setting up a programme, a demonstration video on how to carry out a qualitative fit test, as well as additional resources, including videos and posters to provide guidance on fitting a range of 3M disposable respirators correctly.