Masks rely on creating a seal with the wearer’s face, meaning achieving a good fit is vital to ensuring proper protection.

Facial hair, such as beards, certain moustaches, and even stubble, can compromise the mask seal and reduce the level of protection offered.

The HSE state in HSG53 ‘Respiratory protective equipment at work’ that users of tightfitting RPE – disposable, half, and full face masks – must be cleanshaven around the face seal area.

This applies for fit testing and each work day, and is generally understood in practice as having shaved within 8h of a work shift.