Do You Use Respirators Or Masks?

Are You Aware Of Your Responsibilities?

Do You Know About The WHS FIT TEST Requirements?

We hate to add to your regulatory hassles...
BUT, WHS are already inspecting premises in SE QLD.

The Effect Facial Hair Has On Protection!

Facial hair, including beards, moustaches, sideburns and stubble, will stop a respirator from sealing properly.

Workers who are required to wear tight fitting respirators, must be clean-shaven to allow a good seal of the respirator to the face.

Work Health & Safety laws require workers to take reasonable care for their own health and safety, comply with any reasonable instruction, and cooperate with any reasonable policy or procedure of the employer relating to health or safety. 

What To Expect From An Inspector?

Inspectors will take enforcement action where a person conducting a business or undertaking has provided tight-fitting respirators to workers without undertaking fit-testing and/or facial hair is likely to prevent the seal of the respirator to the face.

Key Points:

• The biggest contributor to reduced respiratory protection is poor fit. Many common types of respirators are tight fitting where performance relies on a good seal between the respirator and the wearers face.
• A fit test for wearers of tight fitting respirators is now required for compliance to AS/NZS1715:2009.
• Fit testing is to ensure your respirators are working to reduce breathing hazards (like beards, incorrect size etc.).
• You need to have an external or in-house qualified person who carries out regular testing (1 or 2 yearly is okay).
• Workers must be clean shaven to get a good seal between masks and skin.

How Can ABL Help You?