[fiestygirl]

Today, I went to be fitted for my TB mask. Unfortunately, I was told that I failed for all three mask sizes available...saying my face is too long and thin...I am trying not to be upset, but the HR people did not seem to know what to do. Has this happened to anyone else? Am I going to have to wear some crazy head apparatus? I just don't get it. I have a very normal face or so I thought...

[jen123321]

Basically, that sucks...but, yes you will have to wear a weird apparatus that looks like a space cadet outfit. It's better than getting TB, though. They aren't saying your face shape is abnormal, just that air leaks around the mask which could potentially cause exposure to the air droplets. I rarely ever see TB, so don't get too worked up about it...

[buzymama79]

At the hospital where I work this has happened to some of our nurses. I am not sure if there are any policies in place for them but, I do know that they are not allowed in the room of a TB patient.

[traumaRUs]

The HR or Occ Health HAVE to provide you with adequate TB protection. If the masks don't fit then they usually will provide a portable respirator that fits over your head loosely and has a self-contained breathing apparatus.

[Myxel67]

I've had a hard time with fit testing of N-95 masks too. Does your facility uses the the molded 3M mask, or the soft flat "duck" mask. In both cases, I had to go to a higher level of fit testing. The 3-M rep came to one hospital and found that good fit could be obtained by tying a loop in the elastic bands to shorten them slightly. With the duck bill mask, I have to use the inner seal. The specialists can almost always find a way to get the mask to fit--as long as you don't have a beard. If not, as another poster stated they will provide a different kind of respirator. Good luck.