What should be performed to ensure a tight fit when wearing a respirator?

A seal check is critical for ensuring that a respirator fits tightly and properly on an individual's face. This procedure involves the wearer performing a simple test to confirm that the respirator is properly sealed against their skin, which is essential for the effective filtering of airborne contaminants.

During a seal check, the user performs specific actions, such as inhaling and exhaling or moving their head side to side, while noticing if there are any air leaks around the edges of the respirator. If air escapes, it indicates that the respirator is not fitting properly, which could compromise its protective capabilities.

While fit testing is a formal procedure usually conducted prior to using a respirator for a longer duration in a work environment, a seal check is an immediate, practical step that can be done by the user to verify that their respirator is functioning correctly at that moment. Visual inspections and clearance tests serve different purposes related to the condition of the respirator itself or the environment but do not directly assess the fit on the individual’s face like a seal check does.