Shave yourself to save yourself! Respiratory Protection Week is from September 5-8
September 6, 2023 – Defence Stories
Caption
Photo of a CAF Wildland Firefighter wearing a half-facepiece elastomeric (reusable) respirator equipped with a magenta P100 filter and yellow organic vapour/acid gas (OV/AG) combination cartridges, examining burned forest debris, as part of Op Lentus.
The Canadian Forces Fire Marshal Office, as the office of primary interest for the CAF/DND Respiratory Protection Program, takes the safety of respirator users like this wildland firefighter to heart, this week and every week.
The phrase “Check yourself before you wreck yourself” is a relevant mantra for prevention of work-related accidents. Whether you’re a recruit, or a more seasoned member opting for facial hair/a beard after years of clean-shaven mandates, if tasked to wear a tight-fitting respirator, think “shave yourself to save yourself”. You could also be saving co-workers, bystanders, members of the public.
Facial hair interferes with the effectiveness of a respirator’s facepiece seal, increasing exposure risk from oxygen deficiency or toxic substances leading to health issues or fatalities. Get online training and in person fit testing on your respirator annually (recommended)/not later than 2 years/sooner if you experience weight loss/gain, dental surgery or other changes affecting respirator fit. Fit impacts the respirator’s ability to protect you, so that is important, as is following employer and manufacturer instructions for safe use.
Exceptionally, if you can’t wear the assigned respirator or a safe alternative, for a medical or religious reason, this warrants careful consideration by your Chain of Command. If you are facing this situation, please consult the process for accommodation at DAOD 5015-0, Workplace Accommodation and DAOD 5516-3, Religious or Spiritual Accommodation
Question: Dress instructions | Chapter 2 Policy and appearance, and CANFORGEN 158/18 CMP 078/18 251819Z SEP 18 AMENDMENT TO BEARD POLICY allow facial hair/beards for CAF personnel. Why can’t I have facial hair or a beard when tasked with wearing a tight-fitting respirator?
These sources don’t override the Respiratory Protection Program requirement to ensure CAF personnel are clean shaven when required to wear a tight-fitting respirator. Safe work instructions were prepared for your task and work site to ensure your health and safety, by a qualified person, as presented to you in the Occupational Health Workplace Assessment Survey/Report. Beards/facial hair, while convenient when you work as hard as you do, are not worth life and health implications if you or others are unnecessarily put in harm’s way, impacting your quality of life and those of your loved ones, now and into the retirement you worked hard for and should be around to enjoy.
For clarification, reach out to the local Respiratory Protection Administrator at your wing, base, or unit.