While many organizations have in-house respirator fit testing programs in place, these programs can fail to meet OSHA requirements and leave workers at risk. From assigning the wrong respirator, to lost records, and non-compliant fit testing ─ these errors mean it’s time to call in the experts. Let’s take a closer look at the top seven reasons why your in-house respirator fit testing program might not be working and when to start outsourcing:
1. TURNOVER KILLS YOUR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT PROGRAMMING
Employee turnover can have a significant impact on an organization’s respiratory protection program. When a program administrator or fit tester leaves, their knowledge and experience leaves with them, making it challenging to maintain the program’s consistency. This can lead to improperly fitted respirators and reporting mistakes, putting workers at risk. When you outsource with Mobile Health, our on-site teams and 6,500 clinics are equipped with clinicians who live and breathe respiratory compliance.
2. YOUR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PROGRAM IS NOT IN PLACE OR OUTDATED
An outdated or non-existent respiratory protection program can lead to confusion and inconsistencies when it comes to respirator selection, OSHA medical evaluations, and fit testing. If your program is outdated or not in place, Mobile Health has free templates you can request here to ensure you meet OSHA requirements.
3. RECORDKEEPING IS A NIGHTMARE
OSHA requires organizations to maintain detailed records of their respiratory protection program, including OSHA medical evaluation and fit test results. Many organizations rely on paper records or multiple databases to track their program. This can quickly become a nightmare to manage, with inconsistencies leading to fines during an OSHA audit.
Outsourcing your program can help avoid these issues. Mobile Health ensures your organization consolidates records into a single database, with all future records reporting directly to your portal.
4. PROGRAMMING IS NOT OSHA COMPLIANT
OSHA has specific requirements for respirator fit testing programs, and if your program does not meet these requirements, it can put workers at risk. For example, OSHA requires that fit testing be performed using a quantitative or qualitative method, depending on the respirator type. Mobile Health ensures your medical evaluation and fit testing methods meet OSHA’s standards.
5. TOO MANY EMPLOYEES TO TEST, NOT ENOUGH STAFF TO TEST THEM
Another common issue with in-house respiratory fit testing programs is that the process can be time-consuming, especially when there are too many employees to test and not enough staff to do it. Staff responsible for conducting the fit tests often find that the additional workload takes them away from their primary job duties, causing a backlog of tasks. Eventually, testing is rushed or skipped, leading to potential safety risks for workers.
Mobile Health’s teams can come on-site and run 24/7, 7 days a week programs to ensure all staff are fit tested in one go. Then, simply send new hires to our 6,500 clinics for a next-day fit test.
6. NO PROCESS FOR OSHA MEDICAL EVALUATIONS
OSHA requires employers to provide medical evaluations for employees who are required to use respirators before a respirator fit test is performed. OSHA requires evaluations to be reviewed by a PLHCP (Physician or Other Licensed Health Care Professional), making this a hard process to complete in-house and is often forgotten in the process. Mobile Health’s online medical evaluations can be completed in minutes with a real-time review by our licensed healthcare professionals. We report results directly to our Client Portal, the same place we report fit testing results.
AN AUDIT HAPPENED, AND SO DID FINES
If your organization fails an audit, it can lead to fines and increased inspections from OSHA. If you have an expert point person for all things OSHA over your respiratory protection program, that’s great! If not, it’s time to turn to an outside provider that will make your program their top priority to keep workers safe and prevent OSHA fines.
OUTSOURCE YOUR PROGRAM TODAY
Don’t let a poorly executed respiratory fit testing program put your employees at risk or cause stress for your staff. Outsource your program today and enjoy peace of mind knowing that your program is in good hands. Mobile Health offers on-site and 6,500 fit testing clinics nationwide, providing a quick and convenient solution to fit testing challenges. Our experienced staff can ensure that your respiratory protection program is up to OSHA standards and your employees are properly protected. Send us a message today to get the conversation started.
