good afternoon, I have an employee who is required to do a job using his respiratory protective equipment that he was fit tested for, he has since grown a beard and says he cant complete the task (which he is right to do as we wouldn't want to endanger him)
can we as a company require him to be clean shaven to the standard at the time of fit testing?
the task is required for roughly 6 hours spaced over a month period.
for all other tasks which involves dust we use air flow helmets with correct filters but the task in question involves placing a product in solvent liquid and its the only task we do which involves solvents.
any advice is greatly appreciated

thanks in advance
gaz sellers

I agree with A Kurdziel enforcement depends on their terms of employment. I used to be involved in making confine space entries and this issue was raised in training. It was a while ago but I do remember the operatives were made aware and had to sign an agreement. It was very rare but one or two operatives were sent home to shave.

If this is part of his job you could argue he has a duty under regulation 7 (cooperate with their employers) and 8 ( misuse or interfere) of the HSW Act.

But shouldn't you fit the PPE to the person, not alter the person to fit the PPE.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs (1) and (2), personal protective equipment shall not be suitable unless—

(b)it takes account of ergonomic requirements and the state of health of the person or persons who may wear it;

Rather than pursuing the employee's grooming what is the company doing about eliminating / reducing the risk which has obviously been identified?

Can the task be re-designed to segregate employee/item/solvent?

Or being short sighted why not switch the current helmets to a newer design with switchable filter units dependent upon task?

When the employee(s) get(s) older and needs glasses that could also break an RPE seal will you then demand they wear contact lenses (or have company funded laser eye surgery) as part of their contract?

And; - give the problem to HR and/or the production people to manage as that's what they get paid for

Can you get another employee to do the task?
Can the task be done in a different way?
Is this task written in his contract?

It might help if you can get female employees to convey that information to the individual?

With half-decent extraction RPE would not be needed.
Maybe the procedure also means solvent on the hands.
Alter the process.

Despite my suggestion at #11 I agree with others who have suggested changing the process if feasible so that RPE, with its limitations, is no longer required - or going for a forced air breathing hood or similar so as to obviate the need for a good face seal.

According to internet sources the Royal Navy has always allowed its men to grow beards (must be 'full sets' comprising a beard covering the jawline and combined with a moustache). However, I guess that Naval Regulations include a clause by which men have to be clean shaven if they're likely to need to wear types of RPE which depends on a good face seal. Please can anyone with RN experience advise on this?

Also, during my time with HSE I knew at least 2 bearded construction inspectors whose work sometimes included entering contaminated areas when inspecting asbestos removal projects. For such work I recall that inspectors were generally provided with forced air breathing hoods powered by battery packs on waist belts. This avoided i) reliance on trying to maintain good face seal and ii) discrimination against inspectors with beards.

The fire service insist on clean shaven faces/chins - My former employer went as far as insisting on the same for those of us in a fire safety dept where our job description was 'operational' despite the chances of wearing a BA set was around zero due to lack of refresher training & opportunity

As a beardy myself and being in safety mine has turned almost white with fear...:) ...and having dealt with this issue directly...just watch out for when he gets his sexy new air fed hood...and then shaves his beard off...try rotating him away from the job for a few weeks if you can to see if this is just a fad... :)

I was in the RN and was No1 in a 4 man fire fighting team (water wall) on an aircraft carrier. I don't recall any 'clean shaven' policy for RPE and I and other mess mates requested beards from time to time. Usually on 6 month deployments and as part of a 'rubbish beard growing contest'.

Does donning a beard render a face fit test null and void? I have carried out tests with people sporting beards and have got good results, my biggest failures are for face shapes i.e. big hooters!

Oh yes I remember it well CS gas is not good for the eyes.

Gareth,
I guess you can have a clean shaven policy if you like, its your organisation and you can set your own standards. For example, we have to wear a tie and be smartly dressed, we are not allowed to use electronic cigarettes indoors, were not allowed to make phone calls in our company cars (hands free or not), we can be drug tested at any time, these are our company standards, so.... as long as you do not discriminate have a clean shaven policy if you like.

In general, fire fighters and the army (with the exception of an assault pioneer) have clean shaven policies.

Interesting point - in my last company you were not allowed to grow a beard but you were allowed to have one.

I don't see the papers taking the pee out of the Fire and Rescue Service or the Military because they don't allow their employees to shave.

PAPR battery powered hood, with solvent filter:
http://www.srsafety.com/usa/upl/files/75729.pdf

I believe A2 filters available BP+65°C
But currently not AX? Possibly due to increased size.