FACIAL HAIR IN THE WORKPLACE!

“The wearer needs to be clean-shaven around the face seal to achieve an effective fit when using tight-fitting face pieces. If workers have beards, or are unable to be clean-shaven, a tight-fitting device will not be suitable so an appropriate loose-fitting device should be chosen.”

Employees who have a beard or facial hair are not suitable to use Negative Pressure respirators, therefore the recommended alternative is Powered Air respiratory systems.

All employees who wear tight fitting face pieces are legally required to undergo face fit testing by a competent person to ensure a proper fit and seal. A tight fitting respirator (half mask or full face mask) can only protect the wearer from contaminants if the respirator is able to achieve a good seal. Beards and facial hair will impede the ability for a face mask to achieve a good seal and will fail a face fit test.

If an employee cannot achieve a seal with a tight fitting face piece; there are two options. The employee would either have to shave their facial hair or the employer would need to provide alternative protection. In this case the alternative would be powered air. Powered Air Respirators, when worn with loose fitting head tops, are a convenient alternative solution, allowing users to retain facial hair and high levels of protection against hazards.

Why Choose Powered Air?

Powered Air Respirators allow the use of a loose fitting head top. The seal of the head top is not affected by facial hair, therefore is suitable for workers who have beards or moustaches. A wide range of head tops are available to ensure the correct level of protection, suitable for a specific application.

• Powered Air Respirators are more comfortable for wearers. The fan assisted respirators allow for more air to be delivered to the wearer, with a reduced breathing resistance which means the respirator is comfortable to use, even for full shift duration.
• Powered Air Respirators are cooler. Heat levels within a powered air respirator head top are lower than using negative pressure as breathe exhalation can cause heat build-up within the mask. Powered air respirators are fan assisted, providing a cooling effect for wearers.
• Powered Air Respirators allow for the use of multiple head tops, ensuring that the investment in one powered air respirator can be used for multiple applications, simply by changing the head top.