Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) – Medical Fitness Examination

Example tasks and roles where this assessment is typically required:

• Wearing respiratory protective equipment (RPE) with relevant breathing resistance and/or device weight (e.g., half-mask/full-face mask with filters, powered air-purifying respirator, self-contained breathing apparatus).
• Maintenance/installation work in confined spaces where RPE is required (e.g., cable tunnels, shafts, technical rooms).
• Electrical or industrial maintenance activities with exposure to dusts/fibres/fumes requiring RPE (e.g., drilling, cutting, grinding, demolition, remediation work).
• Emergency response or standby teams expected to work under RPE (e.g., plant fire brigade, technical incident teams).

 

Medical Examination – Checklist for the Physician

Review of job requirements and hazard assessment (type of RPE, device group/weight, expected work intensity, environmental conditions, use duration).

Initial short consultation (information and consent).

Physical examination:

• General medical examination (internal medicine).
• Focused respiratory assessment (upper and lower airways; asthma/COPD history; current symptoms).
• Cardiovascular assessment (blood pressure, risk factors, symptoms under exertion).
• Musculoskeletal assessment (ability to carry device load; neck/shoulder/back limitations).
• Neurological evaluation (including seizure history; coordination; balance).
• Assessment of psychological suitability (e.g., claustrophobia/panic risk, stress tolerance).

 

Lung function testing:

• Spirometry including flow-volume curve (interpretation in relation to RPE burden and workload).
• Additional diagnostics/referral if findings are abnormal or symptoms suggest relevant airway disease.

 

Cardiorespiratory fitness assessment:

• Resting ECG.
• Exercise stress test (ergometry) for higher-burden RPE and/or if indicated by clinical findings or cardiovascular risk profile.

 

Eye & Vision tests (task-relevant):

• Visual acuity (adequate for safe navigation/communication while wearing RPE).
• Optional: visual field and/or corrective lenses compatibility with facepiece, if relevant.

 

Audiometry (hearing test) if required for communication and warning signal recognition in the work environment:

• Pure tone audiometry (hearing thresholds across relevant frequencies).
• Assessment of perception of warning signals (relevant tones/alarms used in the work environment).
• Clarification of any unclear findings (additional diagnostics if necessary).

 

Check for contraindications or major limitations (examples):

• Severe or unstable respiratory disease (e.g., poorly controlled asthma, severe COPD).
• Significant uncontrolled cardiovascular disease or exertional symptoms suggestive of ischemia/arrhythmia.
• Severe anxiety/claustrophobia that may compromise safe RPE use.

Final medical judgment of fitness according to job requirements (fit / fit with restrictions / not fit).

Closing consultation with the employee (results, recommendations, follow-up if needed).

Issue of medical certificate / documentation according to the applicable framework.