Beards, Facial Hair & Respirators
A tight-fitting respirator only works if it seals against your skin. Even a day or two of stubble lets contaminated air leak around the edge, past the filter, and into your lungs. That’s why OSHA doesn’t allow facial hair where the respirator seals.
- Construction
- General Industry
The rule
OSHA’s respiratory protection standard doesn’t allow tight-fitting respirators to be worn by anyone with facial hair that comes between the sealing surface and the face, or that interferes with the valve. This applies to N95 filtering facepieces as well as half- and full-face respirators when they’re required. It doesn’t matter how well you think it fits; the fit test result doesn’t count if you show up with stubble later.
What’s usually OK and what isn’t
| Usually OK | Not OK |
|---|---|
| Clean-shaven where the mask seals | Full beard |
| A short mustache that stays inside the mask and clear of the valve | Stubble or a few days’ growth |
| A small soul patch inside the seal | Long sideburns under the seal |
| Goatee or chin strap that crosses the seal |
Shave the sealing area daily on days you need a respirator. Fit tests must be done clean-shaven in the seal area, too. See Fit Testing Methods.
Options if you keep a beard
- Loose-fitting PAPR (powered air-purifying respirator with a hood or loose-fitting facepiece). It doesn’t rely on a face seal, and no fit test is needed. See PAPRs.
- Supplied-air hoods for some jobs.
- Engineering controls that remove the need for a respirator, such as wet cutting or dust extraction.
- Reassignment to work that doesn’t need a respirator, if available.
Religious and medical reasons: workers who keep a beard for religious reasons, or can’t shave because of a skin condition such as pseudofolliculitis barbae, may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation, often a loose-fitting PAPR. Talk to your employer. See Discrimination & Harassment.
Voluntary use
If you wear a dust mask voluntarily when it isn’t required, the facial hair rule doesn’t strictly apply, but the mask won’t protect you well either.
Standards & references
- 29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1): Facepiece seal protection
- See also: Respiratory Protection
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