Book Description

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) in response to a request from the Fire Chief of the Anchorage Fire Department. The HHE request was received after four fire fighters reported experiencing either skin irritation or eye irritation as a result of qualitative fit-tests using irritant smoke. One of these fire fighters had eye irritation severe enough to require treatment at a hospital. The issues addressed in this final report are: (1) evaluation of the health risks associated with the use of irritant smoke for qualitatively fit-testing respirator facepieces and (2) recommendation of alternative methods that should be used for fit testing the facepieces of self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA).