Anytime you wear a tight-fitting respirator, you must be clean-shaven. Facial hair lying between the sealing surface of the respirator's facepiece and the wearer’s skin will prevent a good seal. Even stubble will cause excessive leakage and permit harmful substances to enter the respirator putting the wearer at risk.

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We do not fit test anyone with facial hair aside from moustaches that are not long enough to enter the sealing area between the face and respirator. See the example below.

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Employers - if you are booking fit testing for your staff, please ensure that you have a facial hair policy in place that includes being clean-shaven when wearing respirators.

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Staff must be directed to shave by their employer, not by our fit testers when we arrive to do the testing.