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Parent Category: Safety Info Posts

Category: Respiratory Protection

Published: 26 March 2011

A fundamental requirement of using respirators is NO facial hair that could interfere with the respirator's operation or the respirator's fit. OSHA states:

1910.134(g)(1)(i) The employer shall not permit respirators with tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by employees who have:

1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A) Facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function; or

1910.134(g)(1)(i)(B) Any condition that interferes with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function.

I think we should not be fit-testing employees with facial hair. That is against the respirator policy. I will post an old document from the early days of NIOSH that show acceptable and unacceptable facial hair. I actually include this one-page sheet as an official appendix to my policy/procedure.

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