What Employers Need to Standardize: Disposable Masks and Reusable Respirators

Whether your workplace uses disposable N95 masks or reusable respirators, fit testing works best when the organization knows exactly which equipment employees are expected to wear and keeps that equipment consistent.

The facepiece, filters, cartridges, replacement schedule and purchasing process all need to work together.

For a family-owned and operated business like MaskFit+, hose equipment details matter because fit testing is not separate from what happens after the session. The product your team actually receives still has to match the fit-test record.

Disposable and Reusable Options are Managed Differently

Reusable respirators have a durable facepiece that is cleaned and retained while compatible filters or cartridges are replaced separately.

That creates additional purchasing, inspection, cleaning and maintenance requirements for the employer.

An N95 mask for example would be disposed of after each use.

Filters and Cartridges are Not Interchangeable

A particulate filter is designed for certain airborne particles.

Gas and vapour cartridges use materials designed for particular contaminants.

Which component is appropriate depends on the workplace hazard.

Fit testing confirms whether the facepiece seals to the employee.

It does not confirm that the filter or cartridge selected by the workplace is suitable for every hazard.

That responsibility remains part of the employer’s respiratory protection program.

Bring the actual equipment being used

When employees are being fit tested on reusable respirators, the employer should make sure the exact facepiece required for work is available unless another arrangement has been confirmed.

It should be clean, functional and accompanied by the appropriate components required for the selected testing procedure.

Other personal protective equipment that could affect the respirator’s fit should also be available during the testing.

Replacement is Not One Universal Number

Both may need to be removed from service when it becomes damaged, dirty, wet, difficult to breathe through or unable to produce the expected seal.

Manufacturer instructions and workplace procedures also apply.

Standardization reduces avoidable mistakes

Employers can make respiratory protection easier to manage by standardizing:

• approved respirator models
• sizes
• filters and cartridges
• product numbers
• inspection procedures
• replacement schedules
• storage procedures, and
• purchasing terminology

Fit-test records should use the same product identifiers as your inventory system.

An employee who passed on one respirator should not unknowingly receive another because both boxes were
casually labelled “N95.”

What looks like a purchasing detail can become a fit-testing issue very quickly.

Call a MaskFit+ specialist now at 289-643-6222 or email info@maskfitplus.ca to schedule qualitative mask fit testing.