Every time you wear any tight-fitting respirator to apply pesticides you should:

• A. Perform seal check
• B. Wash the respirator
• C. Replace with a loose-fitting respirator
• D. Only wear it for short periods

Answer: (A)

When using a tight-fitting respirator for pesticide application, you must verify the facepiece fits you properly before use. A seal check ensures that there are no gaps between the respirator and your face, so all breathing air passes through the filters rather than leaking around the edges. This is essential because even a small leak can allow pesticide vapors or dust to bypass the filtration system.

To perform the seal check, put on the respirator and test both positive and negative pressure seals. For a positive-pressure check, exhale gently with your hands over the respirator to see whether any air leaks around the face is detected and whether the seal holds. For a negative-pressure check, cover the filters or cartridges and inhale gently to see if the facepiece pulls toward your face with no air leaking in. If you feel any air leaks, adjust the straps or the fit and repeat until no leaks are detected.

Washing the respirator is important for cleanliness but does not replace the need for a proper seal each time you wear it. Replacing with a loose-fitting respirator would defeat the protection, and wearing it only for short periods doesn’t guarantee a good seal. The key practice is performing a seal check every time you don the respirator to ensure effective protection.