Document 598Ea1dXgr21Gw1X02R5oa14

(conoco) XF: l^fLLUlI^Le Interoffice Communication To From Safety Directors Tom Grfcmbles Date July 19. 1983 Subject CHEMICALS' RESPIRATOR/BEARD POLICY Based on comments received, some minor revisions have been made in the final policy distributed to you on July 1. The enclosed policy is the "final" final. Please add this to the appropriate procedure or manuals in-plant. Thomas G. Grumbles Enclosure cc R. D. Gamblin M. Malloy R. A. Dariing E. L. DeWhitt DTH 000031902 CONOCO CHEMICALS: RESPIRATOR/FACIAL HAIR POLICY STATEMENT PURPOSE The purpose of this document is to clearly define the Chemicals Division's policy concerning respirator use with facial hair and to assist plants in developing respiratory protection procedures and policy. The principles outlined below are to be considered the minimum and individual plants may develop procedures that exceed these principles. BACKGROUND All respirators designed to achieve a tight face seal provide their maximum protection when no facial hair is in the seal area. However, certain respirators may provide adequate protection for bearded workers under some circumstances. Decisions on facial hair for specific respirator uses and conditions of use should be based on the following considerations. A Negative Pressure Respirators 1. Persons who wear face-fitting negative pressure respirators (including demand-type self-contained breathing apparatus) during routine duties required for their job performance, or for purposes other than emergency egress, must be clean shaven. The one exception to this is outlined in A.2. below. If negative pressure respirator users choose to wear some facial hair but are clean shaven in the seal area to provide a proper sealing surface, it is recommended that some form of fit testing be used to demonstrate a proper fit. 2. If respirators are provided at the desire of the worker, although exposure levels are below permissible limits, facial hair in the seal area may be allowed if the following conditions are met: DTH 000031903