Skip to main content

Respirator Resources for Employees

Recurring Respirator Program Components
Requirement Responsible MSU Unit Interval Prerequisite System of Record
Medical Evaluation Occupational Health Every 2-5 years None Health Employee Risk Database (HERD)

Expiration reminders are sent from HERD
Fit Test/Training Environmental Health & Safety Every year Medical Evaluation Ability LMS

Expiration reminders are sent from ORRS.train@msu.edu

Also see: MSU Respiratory Protection Program II-E: Employee Responsibilities (PDF)


Medical Evaluation

Managed by MSU Occupational Health
Contact occhealth@msu.edu

  • Check Your Compliance

    Check your status with MSU Occupational Health at https://herd.msu.edu. Under Health Risks, verify that you have an active Respirator requirement and that the Compliance column shows "Compliant."

    herd compliance screenshot

    If you are not compliant, see https://occhealth.msu.edu/resources/respirator-clearance or contact Occupational Health at occhealth@msu.edu to fill out a medical questionnaire. DO NOT send any medical information to EHS.

    You will NOT be notified when your questionnaire is approved. To check compliance, you need to log in to HERD to view compliance status.

Fit-Testing & Training

Managed by MSU Environmental Health & Safety
Contact EHS.respirators@msu.edu

  • Schedule an Appointment

    Confirm that you are medically cleared before scheduling a fit test/training.

    Fit-Test/Training Scheduling
    Mask Type Method
    N95 Book Appointment
    Half-Face, Full-Face, or SCBA
    		 Book Appointment
    PAPR Most PAPR do not require a fit test as they are loose fitting; however, they do require training. EHS, and various divisions (IPF, VDL) have in-house trainers. Retraining is available online. To set up an initial PAPR training with EHS, email occsafety@ehs.msu.edu. EHS does not have PAPR units, so the user must bring their own. EHS is available to consult with departments needing to purchase a PAPR.

    Vet Med personnel: contact Vet Med Safety Manager for all types

  • About Your Appointment

    What to Bring

    • Full or half-face masks: If you have been fit-tested previously, bring the respirator provided to you by your supervisor. 
    • For N95 masks: If you have never been fit tested but your lab/clinic has masks, bring one to the fit test.
    • If you were not provided a respirator, one will be provided for you during the fit test. Do not purchase a respirator until fit tested by EHS.


    How to Prepare

    • FACIAL HAIR: You must be clean shaven in the seal line of the respirator (no beard, no stubble, no goatee in the seal line of the respirator) to be fit tested AND to wear a respirator. This is an OSHA requirement and it is non-negotiable.
    • Long hair must be worn pulled back or put up away from the face.


    Location

    Fit testing is at the Annex building at 3940 Collins Road in Lansing.

    The Annex is the pale gray building on the right with two big garage doors. Go to the door with glass window that says "Fit testing." Call EHS at 517-355-0153 if having issues accessing the Annex.

    About Fit-Test

    You will be given options for masks if this is your first appointment. Type of mask will depend on the hazard. You may choose a comfortable mask. You will be given the manufacturer, model, & size information as well as training. You will be tested quantitatively, (by machine) or qualitatively (by taste), depending on mask, size of group, taste threshold, etc. Each test typically takes 10 minutes or less.

    When you pass the fit test:

    • N95 respirator – you will obtain the manufacturer, model and size information as well as training.
    • Other respirators – you will be given information for ordering, cartridge selection and change out.
  • Cancel, Reschedule, Late Arrivals
    Cancel/Reschedule Options
    Time Frame Method
    > 48 hours prior Use the "reschedule" link in your email confirmation to reschedule in Bookings
    Within 48 hours Email EHS.respirators@msu.edu or call 517-353-0153

    Late Arrivals/No Shows

    Don't be late for your appointment as they are scheduled every 20 minutes. If you are more than 5 minutes late, you may be asked to reschedule. No shows may be charged (see "Cost" section).

  • Cost
    Fit-Test Costs by Group
    Group Fit-Test Cost Additional Info
    Employees No cost*
    Approved MSU affiliates No cost* Contact EHS.respirators@msu.edu to determine whether affiliate is approved.
    Other personnel $84.00 for N95
    $80.00 for elastomeric (Full, half and SCBA)

    *No cost when 1) fit-test is conducted at the EHS main office at 4000 Collins Road or at the Veterinary Medical Center, and 2) No Show policy is followed (see below).

    No Show Policy

    All personnel who fail to show for their first scheduled fit test appointment without an email or call prior to their appointment time, will be granted one exception. All personnel who fail to show a second time, without an email or call prior to their appointment, will be charged $84.00 for N95 and $80.00 for elastomeric (Full, Half, SCBA).

    Please contact EHS.respirators@msu.edu or 517-353-0153 to schedule/cancel an appointment, or to discuss billing.

  • Check Your Fit-Test Status

    Following your appointment, EHS will add the fit-test/training record in the Ability Training Compliance system. To check compliance, log in to Ability LMS, go to My Requirements, verify that you have a respirator track assigned, and that the track status is "Complete." The specific track name should correspond to the type of mask you wear:

    • Respirator (Full/Half-Face)
    • N95 Respirator
    • Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
    • and/or Powered Air-Purifying Respirator


    screenshot from Ability LMS showing N95 Respirator track status

Respirator Training Refresher Video For IPF Personnel

 

Questions

More Information

Respiratory Protection