If you wear tight-fitting respiratory equipment (RPE) at work, it is a legal requirement to undergo a face fit test carried out by a competent person. This is set out in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002, as enforced by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
Tight-fitting RPE, such as disposable masks, half masks, and some full face masks, work by forming a seal around the face, thereby minimising the risk of exposure to harmful airborne substances.
Facial hair – stubble and beards – will cause gaps around the edges of the mask, allowing contaminated air to bypass the filter and be inhaled directly. This comprises your protection and puts your health at risk.
For this reason, the HSE in the UK clearly states that individuals who are required to wear tight-fitting RPE must be clean shaven in the area where the mask fits against the face.
Face fit testing – whether qualitative or quantitative – is designed to confirm that the selected mask provides adequate protection for the individual. If a proper seal cannot be achieved due to facial hair, the test will fail.
For individuals who wear beards, alternative forms of RPE that do not rely on a tight face seal – such as powered hoods or helmets – are available and can provide effective protection.
Safewell has been working alongside us for several years now and I have had the pleasure of working with them for the past few years. They are always professional with their approach and always on hand if we require any ad-hoc advice to support our health and safety needs. I cannot recommend them enough and would definitely suggest to anyone looking for advice or services in regards to anything health and safety related to contact Safewell.
