Under the PPE regulations we are required to supply PPE for our employees. When it comes to RPE there are multiple options avaiable. My question is as a company can you insist employees are clean shaven? We have a  number of emplyees who have beads or facial hair, would the company be required to pay for loose fit powered masks or can they request the employee cover the cost if they wish to keep their beards. The company is happy to provide half fit and disposal RPE and pay to maintain where required and face fit if the employee is clean shaven. From a HR point of view it is a grey area due to the potential for users to have medical reasons or religous reasons for not being clean shaven and in this circumstance the company would of course need to accomodate, but where there is no medical or relgious reason where would we stand. 

I have heard of other companies who make their employees buy the eqpiupemtn if they are unwilling to wear what the company provides as standard. 

Any clarification would be appreciated. 

Lets just say that over time your particular question has been discussed time and again on these forums (there is a search function top left).

You CANNOT charge for PPE (RPE) just because it is not the cheap one the company prefers - your grapevine if actually correct points to employers breaking H&S law.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-67005300

Recently Police Scotland sought to enforce a clean shaven policy which

a) has not been introduced

b) cost them at court

PPE must fit the individual and not the individual fitting the PPE

Of course PPE as the last resort becomes a mute debate if every other control has been exhausted for reasons other than cost.