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Tight-fitting respirators (such as disposable FFP3 masks and reusable half masks) rely on having a good seal with the wearer’s face. To ensure that respiratory protective equipment (RPE) will protect the wearer:

• A face fit test should be carried out the first time a worker uses a particular type of respirator
• The wearer should carry out a pre-use seal check or fit check, which they should repeat every time they put a respirator on

When carrying out a face fit test during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, testers and wearers need to take additional precautionsÌýto minimise the risk of transmission.Ìý

Finding a face fit tester

Due to limited on site availability of face fit testers during COVID-19 pandemic, departmentsÌýare encouraged to share resources with other departments who may have face fit testersÌýavailable on site. To identify available face fit testers in neighbouring departmentsÌýcheck the Analysis Reports section of the Responsible Persons' Register in riskNET.

>ÌýriskNETÌý(UCL login required)

Names of face fit testers must be entered into the Department’s Responsible PersonsÌýRegister in riskNET as a formal record if they have not already been entered.ÌýThose who no longer want to undertake the role must be removed from the register.

The temporary fit testing guidance approved at the Health and Safety CommitteeÌýon 17 June 2020 was reviewed and approved inÌýFebruary 2021.