Employers are required to provide workers with appropriate respirators wherever workers are exposed to hazardous substances in the air. This includes gases and vapours, dusts, fibers, mists, fumes and bio-aerosols.

Different hazards require different types of respirators, so it is important to choose the right respirator for the breathing hazards in your workplace. Some respirators must also be fitted with the correct filter or cartridge in order to be effective.

Before a worker may use a respirator, they must be fit tested to ensure contaminated air cannot leak into the respirator and be inhaled.

If an employer wishes to conduct fit tests for their own employees, they must have an approved fit testing kit available from safety equipment suppliers and be trained on how to use the kit and conduct the test.

Basic instructions on fit testing is available by watching the 3M YouTube videos below.  For more information contact your AgSafe advisor or consultant.

LINKS:

• WorkSafeBC Respiratory Protection information
• 3M Respirator Fit Kit Testing - Video
• Instructions for Disposable Respirators - Video
• Breath Safer – WorkSafeBC book