Respiratory Protection

When engineering controls are not enough – protection that actually fits.

Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is the last line of defence in the hierarchy of controls for airborne hazards.

When engineering and administrative controls cannot reduce worker exposures to safe levels, correctly selected, fitted and maintained respirators are essential. But a respirator that does not fit is a respirator that does not protect – and laboratory-rated protection factors are meaningless if a worker’s face seal is compromised by facial hair, anatomy, or incorrect size selection.

RED OHMS Group delivers comprehensive respiratory protection services aligned to the requirements of AS/NZS 1715:2009 – the Australian Standard for the selection, use and maintenance of RPE – and the RESP-FIT accreditation programme developed by the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH). Our hygienists bring the technical expertise to build respiratory protection programmes that are compliant, practical and genuinely effective at protecting your workers from the airborne hazards they face.

In Western Australia, the fit testing of RPE is legislated under both the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 (clause 3.40) and the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1996 (clause 9.12). Compliance is not optional – and the consequences of providing inadequately fitted RPE in silica, DPM, or weld fume environments can be catastrophic and permanent.

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Capabilities

Design and documentation of a complete respiratory protection programme to AS/NZS 1715 requirements, covering hazard identification, RPE selection, fit testing protocols, worker training, maintenance and storage procedures and programme review processes.

RESP-FIT accredited quantitative fit testing (PortaCount® method) for tight-fitting respirators including P2/P3 half-face and full-face respirators. Provides an objective, numerical fit factor for each individual worker, far superior to qualitative methods. Testing conducted onsite or at our Perth facility.

Aligned with the RESP-FIT framework and AIOH training programme, we deliver competency-based training for your internal health and safety personnel to conduct ongoing fit testing and RPE induction. Builds in-house capability and reduces long-term reliance on external providers.

Why Quantitative Fit Testing?

Quantitative fit testing uses a particle counter to measure the ratio of aerosol particles inside and outside the respirator facepiece while the wearer performs a standardised series of exercises.

This produces a numerical fit factor that directly indicates the protection being achieved. It is the only method that can reliably verify fit for respirators intended for use against high-hazard contaminants such as silica, asbestos, or infectious agents and is required under AS/NZS ISO 16975.3:2023 for higher-risk applications.

Fit testing should be conducted at initial assignment, annually thereafter and whenever a worker changes respirator model or size, experiences significant changes to facial structure (including weight changes or dental work), or reports discomfort or seal issues. For FIFO workforces and mobile workers, RED OHMS can coordinate fit testing during Perth turnarounds or deploy to remote sites for group testing campaigns.

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FAQs

Yes. The WA Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 and the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1996 both require that RPE provided to workers meets the requirements of AS 1715, which includes fit testing provisions. DEMIRS inspectors regard fit testing records as evidence of compliance with respiratory protection obligations.

A tight-fitting facepiece requires a continuous seal with the skin of the face. Facial hair that passes through the sealing surface will compromise the fit – and no amount of testing will produce a reliable fit factor in these circumstances. For workers with facial hair, powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) or supplied-air respirators that use loose-fitting hoods or helmets are the appropriate engineering solution. RED OHMS can advise on suitable alternatives.

RESP-FIT is a national respirator fit testing training and accreditation programme developed by the AIOH to improve the competency of fit testers across Australian industry. It aligns with both Australian and international ISO standards for respirator fit testing. RED OHMS Group has RESP-FIT accredited fit testers and can deliver RESP-FIT aligned train-the-trainer programmes to build competency in your own organisation.