07/09/2022

A partnership to help businesses ensure employees who wear respirators in the workplace are receiving maximum protection has been struck between SafeWork SA and the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH).

Run by AIOH, RESP-FIT is Australia’s Respirator Fit Testing training and accreditation program.

Under the partnership, SafeWork SA will promote the proper use of respirators through the use of respiratory protection programs and fit testing by competent RESP-FIT accredited fit testers.

Fit testing detects for air leaks around the seal between the respirator’s facepiece and face of the worker.

If a good seal is not achieved, contaminated air will leak into the respirator and the worker may not get the level of protection that is needed to protect their health.

South Australian workers use many types of respirators across a range of industries including health, mining, manufacturing and construction to prevent the inhalation of substances such as asbestos, silica, lead and other chemical fumes.

RESP-FIT spokesman Mark Reggers says helping staff ensure a reliable fit is vital for increasing confidence that reliable respiratory protection will be achieved when it matters most.

‘RESP-FIT are so pleased to have SafeWork SA come on as an official partner,’ he says.

‘Respiratory protection is used in many industries to protect workers from a myriad of contaminants which SafeWork SA programs are targeted towards.’

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