Respirator Fit Testing & Medical Evaluations

Yes — it is one of our primary services. Employees complete OSHA's Appendix C questionnaire online, our licensed provider reviews each one and issues the clearance, and you receive complete documentation. Many customers use us for the evaluation and then handle fit testing in-house or add our mobile fit testing later.

Yes — if each employee already holds a current respirator medical clearance from a physician or other licensed health-care professional, we can fit test on its own. OSHA requires that clearance before any fit test (29 CFR 1910.134(e)), so we'll confirm it's on file; if you'd like, we can handle the evaluation too.

Yes. OSHA requires a medical evaluation and clearance before an employee can be fit tested or wear a respirator. The evaluation is completed by a physician or other licensed health-care professional (PLHCP). DSC provides this evaluation directly, so clearance and fit testing can be coordinated as one program.

We fit test N95 filtering facepieces and half-mask negative-pressure respirators using OSHA-accepted qualitative protocols — the respirators most employers issue. Full-facepiece negative-pressure respirators require quantitative fit testing; for powered (PAPR) or supplied-air respirators, contact us to discuss the right method for your equipment.

Qualitative fit testing (QLFT) is a pass/fail method — the employee detects a test agent (sweet, bitter, or irritant) if the respirator leaks. It is approved for negative-pressure respirators with an assigned protection factor of 10 (N95 and half-mask), at a fit factor of 100. Quantitative fit testing (QNFT) uses an instrument to measure actual leakage and is required for full-facepiece negative-pressure respirators, which must reach a fit factor of 500. DSC performs qualitative testing.

OSHA requires fit testing before initial respirator use and at least annually thereafter. Additional fit testing is required if the employee uses a different respirator (make, model, style, or size) or if physical changes occur that could affect the fit — an obvious change in body weight, dental changes, facial scarring, or cosmetic surgery.

No. OSHA prohibits tight-fitting respirator use when facial hair interferes with the sealing surface. Employees must be clean-shaven where the respirator seals for both fit testing and use. Employees with beards may use loose-fitting respirators — such as hoods or helmets — that do not require a face seal.

Not by OSHA's respiratory protection standard — the required medical evaluation is questionnaire-based and reviewed by a licensed provider. DSC offers PFT (spirometry) as an optional clinical screen, commonly combined with the fit test in a single visit for employees in demanding respiratory environments.

A qualitative fit test typically takes 15–20 minutes per employee, including preparation and documentation. For on-site events, we can generally test three to four employees per hour, and more with staggered scheduling.

We try a different size of the same respirator model, then a different model or style. Most employees achieve a passing fit with proper selection. If an employee cannot pass with any available respirator, they cannot use a tight-fitting respirator for that task, and alternative controls or a loose-fitting respirator must be considered.

You receive complete records for each employee: medical clearance determination, fit test date, protocol used, respirator make/model/style/size, and pass/fail result — plus any PFT results. Records are retained and accessible through our compliance platform, with automated reminders for annual re-evaluation and refit.

Respirator medical clearance questionnaire (online, provider-reviewed) is $40 per employee. Fit testing is billed per test: $40 per fit test, or $55 combined with a pulmonary function test. On-site testing adds a $200 per-day event charge covering travel, cleaning, report processing, and secure data handling. Fit tests are billed per test because an employee may require more than one.