CONSTRUCTION & SITE SAEFTY
THE GREAT BRITISH ‘BEARD BOOM’
Mark Andrews, Product Line Manager, EN Air-Purifying Products, at Scott Safety, explains why facial hair is so dangerous and how employers can combat this problem by providing sufficient equipment to their workforce.
Fashion, culture, religion, whatever the reason for sprouting facial hair, the ‘beard boom’ is here to stay in the UK. And whilst most would be forgiven for thinking a bit of trendy stubble doesn’t harm anyone, for the UK’s construction workers, being unshaven could pose a deadly health risk if the correct Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) isn’t used.
Facial hair will, in most cases, interfere with the tight seal required when using a Full Facemask/Half Facemask, which is designed to form a tight fitting seal around the face. This seal is to ensure the user is protected against substances including silica and asbestos. By interfering with the tight seal, facial hair could leave workers at risk of long term illnesses including lung cancer and bronchitis.
Because of this threat, some workers from around the UK are being banned from growing breads in order to ensure their safety is sustained whilst at work. Scott Safety, however, says: keep the beard, keep the protection.
Experts at Scott Safety are raising awareness of the research and development invested across the respirator market that fuels new innovations and ensures that, however hairy workers choose to be, they are professionally protected. The company provides a range of solutions for those who choose to have facial hair, providing flexibility to the employer, and more freedom to the worker.
“FACIAL HAIR COULD LEAVE WORKERS AT RISK OF LONG-
TERM ILLNESSES INCLUDING LUNG CANCER AND BRONCHITIS.”
All workers who wear tight fitting face pieces are legally required to undergo face fit testing by a competent ‘fit- to-fit‘ accredited person to ensure a proper fit and seal. A tight fitting respirator (half mask or full face mask) can only protect the wearer from contaminants if the respirator is able to achieve a good seal. As beards and facial hair impede the ability for a face mask to achieve a good seal, the wearer will fail a face fit test.
It’s vital for employers to take into account facial hair when supplying their workforce with RPE. For a number of years, facial hair has been considered extremely hazardous to the employee due to the interference it has with any protective seal, however, as technologies develop, the risk of facial hair has reduced, as long as the correct RPE is provided. It’s important for employers to keep up-to-date with the products available on the market as banning beards isn’t necessarily essential anymore with the innovative designs becoming readily available. It’s important for employers to remember that they have a responsibility to keep their workers safe, with or without facial hair.
So, what are the alternatives for those who choose to don a beard? A headtop that completely covers the head, face and neck could be an option. The seal of the headtop is not affected by facial hair, therefore it is suitable for workers who have beards or moustaches. A wide range of headtops are available on the market to ensure the correct level of protection, suitable for a specific application.
Moving up a gear, powered air respirators (PARP) are fan assisted, which allows for more air to be delivered to the wearer, with a reduced breathing resistance meaning the respirator is comfortable to use, even for full shift duration.
www.scottsafety.com/emea twitter.com/TomorrowsHS 37
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