01 Jul Clean Air Take Care | HSE & BSIF Initiative
Stay Compliant with the BSIF & HSE’s Clean Air? Take Care! Campaign
Every year, thousands of UK workers are exposed to hazardous dust, fumes, vapours, gases and fibres that can cause serious long-term respiratory illnesses. The renewed Clean Air Take Care campaign from the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reminds employers that protecting workers’ respiratory health requires more than simply providing a face mask.
Effective Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) programmes rely on the correct selection of equipment, professional face fit testing, comprehensive RPE training, and ongoing maintenance to ensure employees remain protected.
If your organisation uses tight-fitting respirators, now is the ideal time to review your compliance.
What Is the BSIF & HSE Clean Air Take Care Campaign?
The Clean Air? Take Care! campaign raises awareness of occupational lung disease and encourages employers to reduce workers’ exposure to harmful airborne contaminants.
The campaign highlights the importance of:
- Identifying respiratory hazards
- Following the hierarchy of control
- Using suitable Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE)
- Carrying out face fit testing
- Providing effective RPE training
- Ensuring ongoing inspection, maintenance and supervision
Occupational lung diseases remain one of the UK’s biggest workplace health risks, yet many cases are entirely preventable with the right control measures.
Why Face Fit Testing Is a Legal Requirement
One of the most common misconceptions is that issuing a respirator automatically protects the wearer.
It doesn’t.
A tight-fitting respirator only works if it forms an effective seal against the wearer’s face. If there are gaps around the mask, contaminated air can bypass the filter, leaving the wearer exposed.
Professional face fit testing confirms that a particular make, model and size of respirator provides an adequate seal for each individual wearer.
Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, employers are expected to ensure that tight-fitting RPE is suitable for the individual user.
Face fit testing should be completed:
- Before first use
- When changing respirator make, model or size
- Following significant facial changes
- After substantial weight loss or gain
- If facial surgery or injury affects the seal
- Whenever there is doubt that the respirator still fits correctly
Without face fit testing, employers cannot be confident that their respiratory protection programme is providing the intended level of protection.
Why RPE Training Is Just as Important
Providing suitable Respiratory Protective Equipment is only part of the solution.
Employees must also know how to use it correctly.
Effective RPE training helps employees understand:
- Why respiratory protection is needed
- How to correctly fit and adjust their respirator
- How to perform user seal checks
- When filters need replacing
- How to inspect, clean and maintain equipment
- The limitations of different respirators
- When equipment should be removed from service
Well-trained employees are more likely to wear their respirators correctly, reducing the risk of exposure and improving workplace safety.
Industries That Require Face Fit Testing
Many industries require regular face fit testing and respiratory protection training, including:
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Engineering
- Woodworking
- Pharmaceutical production
- Chemical processing
- Waste and recycling
- Food manufacturing
- Utilities
- Healthcare
- Facilities management
Any workplace where hazardous airborne substances are present should have a suitable respiratory protection programme.
Our Face Fit Testing and RPE Training Services
We provide professional face fit testing and Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) training to organisations across the UK, helping employers meet HSE expectations and improve workplace safety.
Our services include:
- Qualitative face fit testing
- Quantitative face fit testing
- RPE awareness training
- Respirator user training
- Guidance on selecting suitable RPE
- Refresher training
- On-site face fit testing
- Compliance records and documentation
Whether you require testing for a small team or multiple sites nationwide, our experienced trainers deliver practical, compliant solutions tailored to your workplace.
Why Choose Professional Face Fit Testing?
Choosing competent face fit testing helps your organisation:
- Meet HSE and COSHH requirements
- Protect employees from harmful airborne contaminants
- Reduce the risk of occupational lung disease
- Improve employee confidence in using RPE
- Demonstrate compliance during inspections
- Maintain accurate testing records
Investing in professional respiratory protection is not only a legal responsibility—it is an investment in your workforce’s long-term health.
Book Face Fit Testing and RPE Training
The BSIF and HSE’s Clean Air Take Care campaign is an important reminder that respiratory protection should never be left to chance.
If your organisation uses tight-fitting respirators, now is the time to review your arrangements.
Our qualified team provides professional face fit testing, Respiratory Protective Equipment training, and practical compliance support to help you protect your workforce and meet your legal obligations.
Contact us today to discuss your face fit testing and RPE training requirements and ensure your respiratory protection programme is working as effectively as it should.
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