LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A respirator fit testing is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 21, in Lakeport.

The testing will be performed by State Compensation Insurance Fund (State Fund) qualified staff and is being organized by the Lake County Farm Bureau.  

According to the State Fund Web site, respirators that have tight-fitting facepieces are not one-size-fits-all.

These facepieces must form a proper seal around the wearer’s face in order to prevent contaminated air from leaking into the facepiece. Therefore, fit testing is required before initial use and at least annually for all employees who are required to wear respirators with a tight-fitting facepiece.

This annual testing will take place at the Lake County Farm Bureau office located at 65 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport.  

Pre-registration is required and the following criteria are necessary: all employees must receive medical clearance to wear a respirator and employees must bring a current medical certificate to the fit test; when registering for the test, you must provide the manufacture name and model number of the respirator; employees must be clean shaven (free of facial hair to ensure adequate fit); and employees must bring their own respirator to the fit testing.

Pre-registration is required by Tuesday, Feb. 5. Fees for the fit test are $10 for Farm Bureau members and $25 for non-Farm Bureau members.  

To register, please call the Lake County Farm Bureau office at 707-263-0911.