[MCOH-EH] Respirator fit testing necessity in outpatient settings

[Swift, Melanie]

It would all fall under the OSHA respirator standard, unless your state has its own Airborne Transmissible Disease standard, such as California’s. If you have reasonable anticipation of needing to see patients that are either already on airborne precautions (e.g. it’s a TB or ID clinic) they should be fitted. If there was a novel influenza such that respirators were indicated, such as when H1N1 was first new, that would also justify fitting on the outpt setting. We also fit some of our pediatric clinics that do still see chickenpox patients on a fairly regular basis.

Melanie Swift, MD
Director, Vanderbilt Occupational Health Clinic
http://occupationalhealth.vanderbilt.edu

From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net] On Behalf Of Abhijay Karandikar via MCOH-EH
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2016 9:40 PM
To: MCOH/EH
Cc: Abhijay Karandikar
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] Respirator fit testing necessity in outpatient settings

List,

Our Practice Director (HR) has asked for specific regulations / statutes justifying N-95 respirator fit testing for our clinic employees (outpatient settings). Can anyone comment on this?

Thanks,
Abhijay



Abhijay P. Karandikar, MD, MPH, FACOEM
Medical Director, Occupational Medicine - CONNCare
Chief, Occupational Medicine - Backus Hospital
Norwich, CT 06360.

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