ISRP 2002 abstract
| Presenter/author | Title | Abstract |
|
Calder, Suzanne
Radiological Protection Department, Safety and
Environment Group |
The Introduction of Quantitative Respirator Fit Testing at the UKAEA Dounreay Site |
The effectiveness of any tight-fitting
respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is dependent on the seal between
the facepiece and the individual wearer. The only way to determine the
quality of the seal is using either quantitative fit tests (QNFT) or
qualitative fit tests (QLFT). Successful completion of a fit test will
not ensure a good respirator fit in the workplace as they only show
compatibility between the wearer and facepiece during the test.
In October 2000 the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) introduced a program of respirator fit testing at its Dounreay nuclear licensed site using the TSI Portacount system. The program is targeted at personnel who wear a respirator as part of their routine work, and requires as a minimum biennial testing of these personnel. In the past year 430 people have been tested with the N10 respirator, of these 4% have had their respirator requirements modified. This paper discusses how the test equipment was commissioned, the program of testing, and the results so far obtained. |