Respirator for Full Beard

[treillw]

Not hunting related, but you guys are always helpful - even on random topics.

Need to get a respirator for work. Will be in the presence of asbestos. I haven't shaved in about 4 years. Are there any respirators out there that work with a long beard?

Thanks!

 

[kentuckybowman]

maybe one of those diving suits for welders.

 

[Rusty Shackelford]

Pretty sure OSHA dictates that you have to be clean shaven to wear a respirator. Run into this a lot at work but I’d check OSHA first.

 

[brandon.andersen]

Look into a PAPR, supplied air respirator.

 

[Broomd]

Full head hood...or just shave the damn thing. It will regrow.

 

[49ereric]

Company always made us shave for the fit test.

 

[Rusty Shackelford]

Company always made us shave for the fit test.

We’ve had our guys sent off the job by safety cause they had a 5 o clock shadow. They also check our respirators to make sure they’re clean and OSHA approved.

 

[streetdoctor]

Look into a PAPR, supplied air respirator.

This is your only option, if it's suitable for the job.

 

[fngTony]

You would have to be in a body suit. Not possible to get a proper seal with a beard. Just shave, beards grow back but your lungs don’t.

 

[S-3 ranch]

Pretty sure OSHA dictates that you have to be clean shaven to wear a respirator. Run into this a lot at work but I’d check OSHA first.

Full mustfa beard no reperirator will work ! We have NHO2/ sour gas meters
and full taliban beard will not work

besides the asbestos will get in your hair

 

[UWneptune308]

Exposed to asbestos or shave unfortunately. My grandpa was exposed and died within a year. Protect yourself brother !!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mparks270]

I did asbestos removal a long time ago and had to go through certification classes. Need to be clean shaven for the respirator to form a seal to the face and be effective.

 

[amassi]

Full head hood...or just shave the damn thing. It will regrow.
View attachment 465347

This ^^^
You shave it or the asbestos will after chemo

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

 

[treillw]

A powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) will work. Here is an example of one:

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/dc/v100559008/

You DO NOT have to shave for this to work.

This one might be a contender as well. I might have to make a "beard bun" to keep things inside the mask.

Powercap Active IP Respirator

Lightweight and more balanced on the head than its competitors. The Powercap is the lightest head mounted PAPR in the World with over 8,000 sold in the USA. This PAPR is the go to product for professional woodturners and hobbyists, chimney sweeps, allergy sufferers, and others that need the best ...

pekesafety.com

 

[doc holiday13]

maybe one of those diving suits for welders.

This is essentially what would be needed. Basically a Hazmat suit.

There is a reason .mil guys are supposed to be shaven is so their gas mask work

 

[tony]

Coming from the medical side of things, I'm a nurse.
My last ED job was just as the covid panic was setting in, so about 2 years ago.
The hospital bought us these sweet 3m respirators, we could keep. I'll have to get a part number for you.
As beards are the style, we had a lot of young nurses sporting the facial hair. This place I worked for had a sophisticated mask/facial fit testing system that picked up any leak. These boys all seemed to pass with their rugged man faces.
I don't do beards as when I do. I look 10 years older and at 54 I don't need that! lol
We also had the papr system, and these motorcycle helmets with a belt that had a hose and connected to the helmet.
Back when I was a firefighter, that was the rule, no facial hair per every alphabet organization. Excpet the vollies, they all grew beards and loved to fight what we fear, beards and all.

 

[treillw]

I will have to undergo fit testing every year with whatever I go with - so if it doesn't work, hopefully it will be caught.

Best part of this is I'll be able to get some excellent stares wearing my getup grocery shopping from time to time.

 

[Yoder]

My cotton mask I bought for $6 at Walmart stops microscopic virus particles even when you wear it under your nose. Just use one of those.

 

[roadrunner]

Shave it. You won't lose super powers, I promise.

 

[Gwchem]

Even with forced air, OSHA requires a clean shave for the fit test. Sorry, that's the rules.

Thankfully, I've gotten myself out of the respirator program at work. Still use one once in a while, but no one is checking up on me.