The respirator’s airtight seal is critical to ensuring safety in workplaces where respiratory hazards are the norm. This is why various regulatory bodies require employers to conduct fit testing before a respirator is used in production.
During fit testing, one must follow rules to achieve 100% accuracy and eliminate any interference that could affect the respirator’s effectiveness. One area that many workers and employers alike frequently question is guidelines on facial hair.
In this article, learn more about the standard regulations about facial hair during fit testing, some exceptions, and other alternatives to fully equip you with the necessary knowledge about respirators.
How Facial Hair Affects Respirator Fit
In an environment where airtight respirators are a must, a clean shave is more than just aesthetic; it’s a requirement for adequately sealing the respirator.
In the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) response to an inquiry about facial hair, the regulatory board noted that respirators can’t be worn if facial hair interferes with the sealing or valve function.
The sealing ensures that no harmful particles or contaminants can pass through the respirator, so even a minor gap caused by facial hair can cause a leak. This will then compromise the protection it can offer the wearers.
OSHA Guidelines on Respirator Use With Facial Hair
The organisation’s standard is clear on this topic, but in case you want to know the specifics of what’s acceptable or not, here’s a brief explanation:
- Not Acceptable: Beards are unacceptable as texture and density might vary daily, which affects the respirator’s reliability. Stubbles and other facial hair styles that extend to sealing are also unacceptable.
- Acceptable: Facial hair or trimmed moustaches that do not interfere with the sealing surface or valve.
Exceptions and Accommodations for Facial Hair
While strict rules regarding facial hair exist, exceptions are unavoidable to accommodate cultural, religious, or personal reasons. In these cases, alternatives like loose-fitting hoods or helmets are recommended so their safety is not compromised.
- Religious or Cultural: Workers with this exception may use alternative protective equipment like powered air-purifying respirators.
- Medical: If your workers have medical conditions preventing them from shaving, consult your trusted provider to tailor solutions.
Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is collaborating with the Sikh Coalition on an ongoing initiative to craft tight-fitting respirators with improved beard bands. This step aims to maintain workers’ facial hair without compromising safety.
Steps to Perform Fit Testing for Individuals With Facial Hair
According to the UK Health and Safety Executive, fit testing is not recommended for individuals with facial hair that interferes with the respirator’s sealing or valve.
However, if your workers have already addressed this challenge, below are the steps you can expect during fit testing.
Step 1: Preparation Before Testing
Gather and inspect the equipment before sending a respirator and your worker to fit testing. You must also ensure that your workforce who undergo testing is appropriately briefed on the process.
If individuals with facial hair can’t shave, consider offering other protective options.
Step 2: Fit Check
Before the formal fit test, the wearer can perform a seal check, which involves donning the respirator to ensure no leak when inhaling or exhaling.
During this fit check, facial hair that is minimal or trimmed and doesn’t touch the seal or valve should be fine.
Step 3: Choose the Fit Test Method
There are two most common fit testing methods that you can use to check your respirator fit.
- The qualitative fit test relies on the wearer’s sensory assessment to detect leaks.
- The quantitative fit test uses a machine to measure the possible leakage inside and outside the respirator.
Step 4: Conduct the Test
Fit testing involves a series of exercises, mostly mimicking workplace conditions and activities, to monitor whether the respirator’s seal can withstand your company’s daily operations.
Step 5: Evaluate and Record Results
In this step, it’s best to ask your fit testing provider to guide you and help assess the respirator’s performance based on the results. You can document any issues found during the test, including facial hair concerns and provide feedback to the wearer.
Step 6: Provide Solutions for Facial Hair Challenges
If a proper seal can’t be achieved even with minimal or trimmed facial hair, you can advise your workers to shave it clean. Regarding facial hair exceptions, the only solution you can come up with for now is to provide an alternative like the other 3M respirator mask.
Step 7: Repeat Testing Yearly
Fit testing is not a one-time event; it needs to be repeated regularly, especially whenever the respirator model, wearer’s facial structure, or job requirements change. This is a requirement to maintain safety compliance.
Striking the Balance Between Safety and Inclusion
In any workplace, it’s important to balance safety and inclusion. A company must recognise one’s uniqueness and beliefs by providing equipment options that respect each need.
For instance, if facial hair prevents workers from wearing airtight respirators, you can provide alternatives like PAPR and loose-fitting hoods or helmets. This ensures you don’t step on other’s beliefs but still uphold compliance with industry regulations.
If you need more advice on the matter, start scheduling consults with Lim Kim Hai Electric, providing you with a trusted respirator fit test in Singapore.
We are also a leading safety equipment supplier, offering safety solutions and accessories for businesses like yours. We are 3M certified and provide many products or services to meet your safety needs, including QFT and QNFT.
