Do contractors that are hired to do welding, required to shave their beards?

[vickyp]

#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]

#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

[Author]

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