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Vallen Occupational Health Services is the nations largest single provider of quantitative respirator fit testing services. This group, which was formerly Gulf Coast Respiratory Services (GCRS), has over eleven years of experience providing quantitative respirator fit testing services to industrial, petrochemical and healthcare companies throughout the United States. Our management staff, which includes industrial hygienists and certified safety professionals, are nationally recognized experts in the field of respiratory protection. They have participated in respiratory protection rulemaking including voting membership on two respiratory protection related ANSI committees. Our technical staff is trained, professional and experienced. We are committed to providing the highest quality fit testing services available. We are dedicated to ensuring our customers are in complete compliance with the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard.

QUANTITATIVE RESPIRATOR FIT TESTING

The Difference between Qualitative and Quantitative Fit Testing:

We at Vallen prefer to provide our customers with quantitative fit testing services rather than qualitative. Even though OSHA permits qualitative methods they are subjective and are not the best way to determine adequate respirator fit. Qualitative fit testing uses a challenge agent like banana oil or saccharin. The test is subjective and relies on the workers sense of taste or smell. OSHA regulations only permit the use of qualitative testing for respirators that require an Assigned Protection Factor of 10 or less. This means if you choose to do a qualitative test on a full face respirator, that respirator can not be used in concentrations greater than 10 times the chemical’s permissible exposure limit. The Vallen OHS group does not routinely offer Qualitative Fit Testing Services.

Quantitative respirator fit testing uses the TSI PortaCount to measure exact leakage into the breathing zone of the respirator face piece. Contrary to popular perception, it actually takes less time to conduct a quantitative test then a qualitative test because there is no taste or odor threshold screening time required.

OSHA requires that fit testing and respirator training be conducted annually for all persons required to use respiratory protection. Persons who use respirators also must be medically cleared. OSHA requires that full face respirators be fit tested quantitatively if they are to be used to their full assigned protection factor. All positive pressure face-pieces must be fit tested in a negative pressure configuration. This is a new requirement, previously supplied air users did not have to fit test.

When a fit test is performed we follow the exact requirements set forth in the OSHA regulation. A technician will review how to put the respirator on, how to inspect it and adjust it properly. The technician will also explain the purpose of the test, how the equipment works and what is expected of the test subject. During the fit testing process the employee makes head movements that simulate workplace exercises. A complete fit test takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. All the PortaCounts are used with color laptop computers. Each technician is assigned to monitor no more than three units at a time. We provide all the materials necessary for testing, including respirators and consumable supplies with the exception of one time use respirators that should be provided by the client. All you need to do is provide us with clean shaven persons to be tested.

Vallen is currently the largest single provider of quantitative respirator fit testing services in the nation. The VOHS group has a staff of approximately 17 full time, occupational health and safety specialists who are well trained and experienced in conducting respirator fit testing. Chuck Freiberg, the VOHS group manager is an industrial hygienist and certified safety professional with 10 years of experience managing occupational health services. There are currently 30 TSI PortaCounts dedicated to field operations. We are set up to be extremely mobile. Our equipment is stored in special cases designed specifically for airline travel. We can also provide emergency fit testing services on short notice. Our technicians are uniformed in white lab coats with the Vallen logo. Professionalism and Customer Service are emphasized. Terri Lewcun, our customer service and operations manager functions as a scheduling coordinator and will work with you in setting up the job to ensure that fit testing is conducted efficiently and cost effectively.