Who is responsible for paying for the respirator? Your department is responsible for the cost of any personal protective equipment ( If you wish to get a full face APR or a Positive Pressure (PAPR) respirator for your convenience (i.e., it is not required for the job), then you would have to use your own money for that. Who is responsible for paying for the medical evaluation? A medical evaluation is now required for any employee who is required to wear a respirator for their job. The cost of your medical evaluation is to be paid by your employer, so if you’re an UC employee it will be paid by your UC department. You should not use your personal medical insurance for the respirator medical evaluation. Who sees my medical questionnaire? The information you provide on the Medical Evaluation Questionnaire is considered private medical information and will only be seen by medical personnel (such as doctors or nurses) who review the questionnaire to determine if there is any medical reason why you should not wear a respirator. Only the Medical Recommendation Form is returned to your employer, and that form only tells your employer whether or not you are cleared to wear a respirator and if there are any restrictions to your use of a respirator. How often do I have to do a fit test? You must do a fit test (and medical evaluation) annually as per When do I need to discard a cartridges/filter? The UC policy is after 8 hours of use in the field. If you are not sure how many hours are on your cartridges, just replace them to be on the safe side. Can I mix-and-match different brands of cartridges and respirators? No, each manufacturer has their own way of making the connections between respirator mask and cartridges. If you mix-and-match there is no way to know if the mask will still properly work. For more Information please read the following safety notes: #128 - General Respirator Safety #129 - Supervisor Requirements for Respirator Program