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  • vickyp
    Keymaster
    February 1, 2020 at 12:25 pm
    Post count: 3644
    #102735
    Forum: Community

    Good Day,
    We have hired a contractor to do welding for us. The contractor is working in our shop while welding. In order to protect our workers while welding we require them to wear a half mask and be clean-shaven.
    My question is this, the contractor has a beard, Can we make the contractor shave off his beard in order to wear a half-mask respirator while welding in our shop?

    vickyp
    Keymaster
    December 18, 2023 at 9:06 am
    Post count: 3644
    #103165

    The short answer is yes if the face piece seals to the skin of the face and the respirator’s effectiveness depends on an effective facial seal. Here’s the applicable section of the Alberta OHS Code.
    “250(2) An employer must ensure that, if a worker is or may be required to wear respiratory
    protective equipment and the effectiveness of the equipment depends on an effective facial
    seal, the worker is clean shaven where the face piece of the equipment seals to the skin of the
    face.”
    BTW, the same basic rule applies in just about all jurisdictions, not just Alberta. Of course, if the contractor has religious objections to shaving, we’ll need to have another conversation.
    Hope that helps. Glenn

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