FIT2FIT Accreditation Scheme

Last week I attended a FIT2FIT Assessors Training Day at the HSE's Health and Safety Laboratory up in Buxton, Derbyshire.   The day was in two parts; the first part dealt with what the scheme's objectives were and how it would go about achieving those objectives. We also covered the role of the Assessor in great detail. Clearly a lot of hard work has gone into ensuring that this scheme delivers real improvements in respiratory protection in the UK workplace. The second part was a practical activity where we, the wannabe assessors, were required to carry out assessments of two of the biggest "rogues" they could find!  They say that poacher turned gamekeeper works very effectively, well the reverse is also true and Mike Clayton, the UK's leading expert on Fit Testing threw everything at us. The scary thing is that he did it with such an innocent face! There could be no better demonstration of how desperately we need this scheme - and of how easy it is to get Fit Testing wrong - with potentially devastating consequences.  

Mike was just subjecting us to some of the horror stories he has come across in the workplace, and let's face it, we have all come across shocking examples of poor practice. No, I cannot leave it at poor - getting Fit Testing wrong is not poor, it is dangerous; it could be lethal. Let's face it, no one issues RPE unless there is a real hazard present. Bad Fit Testing means that workers simply won't be protected adequately.

Anyway! The reason for this Blog? I just heard I had been accepted as an assessor! I look forward to taking an active part in the success of the FIT2FIT Accreditation Scheme, and remember, if you think you need to qualify under the scheme, then you almost certainly do. If you Fit Test you have to be accredited. If you need training before attempting the assessment we can help with that as well. Go here to find out more about the training and resources we offer