We have been getting our operatives who need to wear RPE face fit tested. Obviously in accordance with fashion, a number have beards and cannot obtain a seal. I wanted to see if others had had the same experience and whether your companies had introduced 'a no facial hair' policy as we debated this at Board level without agreeing an outcome.

With PPE as the last resort why do you want to make the operatives fit the equipment? Personal Protective Equipment should satisfy the identified control needs and fit the operative Pretty sure the legal whizz kids would have titled it "Devices for the Protection of Workers" regulations had the intention been to change the employee to suit a particular available device. Dependent upon your workforce demographic there may also be employment law problems from a clean shaven policy effectively barring certain religious and cultural beliefs

You will also find in the ACoP and in other guidance that it is necessary to be clean-shaven when wearing the RPE. Otherwise it is proven to be ineffective/unreliable. We resorted to buying powered respirators that don't require face fit. It was clear that it was either that or a clean-shaven policy which the organisation didn't want to implement.

Ideally the risk to need to wear RPE should be designed out, however that is not always possible and some activities will remain where dust and fumes are identified hazards. Anyone being face fit tested needs to be cleanly shaven or the seal will not be effective, thereby increasing the risk of dust, fumes etc being inhaled, getting to their lungs and causing ill health. A moustache or small beard that can be accommodated inside the seal will have no effect on an individuals safety, so a 'no facial hair' policy seems a bit extreme. If an operative works in a role, location or trade where there is an identified risk they should be informed of the requirement to wear RPE and be face fit tested accordingly. If they have facial hair that could affect the seal they should be asked to shave, unless there are religious reasons for not shaving, in which case you can buy loose fitting hoods that have a positive air blower inside to prevent dust entering and being inhaled. These are expensive and therefore a considerable investment in the individual. Disposable RPE is the cheapest option most companies prefer. Provided it is correctly fitted and those wearing them understand the need to be clean shaved is to protect their health most people are happy to wear them. Those that don't want to / refuse to shave etc could be moved to a different role or project where there is no risk of dust/fume inhalation or be provided with the expensive hood type RPE. Some organizations may even go down the disciplinary route for refusing to follow fair safety instructions.

We have recently gone through a similar situation Anyone with a skin complaint or religious grounds for not being clean shaven has been provided with a positive pressure hood, anyone who chooses not be be clean shaven for no other reason than it being their choice have been given the option to purchase a positive pressure hood and we will contribute the equivalent cost of the original respirator. We have currently 6 operatives taking up this offer, no one as yet has refused to be clean shaven when using a respirator and refusing to take up the positive pressure hood option.

I think you guys are looking at the Regs too closely and not thinking outside the box. Section 7 of Hasawa is clear about employees duties; to take care for their h&s and to co-operate with the employer. Under cosh 2002 the employee also needs to use control measures provided by the employer and under PPE Regs 1992 they also have to use the PPE provided. The list goes on.....Essentially whether it is dust suppression or PPE it is part of your "safe system of work", which the employee needs to follow. Problem is, Unions can and often do give conflicting advice to members.

Completely agree.

And the greatest feature of the human race is its unique individuals. One size never fits all perfectly. Beard or not certain face shapes will never fit a mass produced product so alternatives will always be needed Free Of Charge.