Qualitative fit testing is a pass/fail test method that uses your sense of taste or smell, or your reaction to an irritant in order to detect leakage into the respirator facepiece. Qualitative fit testing does not measure the actual amount of leakage.

The qualitative fit testing procedures shall be conducted as follows: Negative User Seal Check: With the intake port(s) blocked, the wearer inhales gently and holds. ... Positive User Seal Check: With the exhaust port(s) covered, the wearer exhales gently to generate a slight positive pressure within the facepiece.

Document retention: Employers must retain records of employee medical evaluations for the duration of employment plus 30 years. Employers must also retain fit-test records for respirator users until the next fit test is administered.

Keep a written record of fit-tests carried out for each worker, including the: type of test performed • make, model, style and size of respirator tested • date and result of the test. Issue workers with a fit-test record card after fit-testing.

Fit testing must be done prior to use, whenever a different respirator is worn, and at least annually thereafter (pending). Fit testing will be administered using an OSHA-accepted qualitative fit test or quantitative fit test protocol.

Under 1910.134, fit testing must be performed initially (before the employee is required to wear the respirator in the workplace) and must be repeated at least annually.

Qualitative fit testing is a pass/fail method used on half-masks that relies on senses - such as taste and smell - to detect air leakage from your respirator. The half masks being tested much have an overall fit factor (mask particle concentration divided by the ambient particle concentration) of 100 or less.