Influence of Facial Hair Length, Coarseness, and Areal Density on Seal Leakage of a Tight-Fitting Half-Face Respirator

Details

• Personal Author:
  Floyd EL ; Henry JB ; Johnson, Douglas L.
• Description:
  Background: OSHA regulations state that an employer shall not permit tight-fitting respirators to be worn by employees who have facial hair that comes between the skin and facepiece seal. Studies have shown that facial hair in the face seal zone can increase penetration and decrease the fit factor (FF), although the relationship between the amount and characteristics of facial hair and the increase in penetration is notwell quantified. This article examines the influence of facial hair length, areal density, and coarseness on FF for one model of half-face elastomeric negative-pressure air purifying respirator. Approach: Quantitative fit tests (QNFT) were performed on 19 subjects with beards initially 0.500-in long and subsequently trimmed to 0.250, 0.125, and 0.063 in, then after a razor shave. Three fit tests were performed at each of the 5 lengths, for 285 total tests. The average diameter and areal density of cheek and chin hair were measured. Penetration was modeled as a function of hair length category, beard areal density, and hair coarseness. Results: FF decreased with beard length, especially beyond 0.125 in. However, passing FF scores were achieved on all tests by all subjects at the smooth shave and 0.063 in conditions, and 98% of tests were passed at 0.125 in; seven subjects passed all tests at all conditions. Chin and cheek areal densities were significantly different and were only weakly correlated. Beard hair diameters were normally distributed across subjects (mean 76 um, standard deviation 7.4 um). Beard length and areal density, but not coarseness, were statistically significant predictors of fit using an arcsine transformed penetration model. FF decreasedwith increasing beard length, especially beyond 0.125 in, although FF with a "stubble" beard did not differ significantly from a smooth shave. FF also decreased with increasing areal beard hair density. Conclusion: Beard length and areal density negatively influence FF. However, tight-fitting half-face negative-pressure respirator fit tests can achieve adequate fit factor scores even with substantial facial hair in the face seal area. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Men Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Beard Elastomeric Facial Hair Fit Testing Half Facepiece Respirators Humans Leakage Models Penetration Respirator Respirators Respiratory Equipment Respiratory Protection Respiratory Protective Equipment Workers Worker Safety

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• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Oklahoma ; OSHA Region 6
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  334-340
• Volume:
  15
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051210
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2018 Apr; 15(4):334-340
• Contact Point Address:
  Evan L. Floyd, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Oklahoma College of Public Health, P.O. Box 26901, Room 419, Oklahoma City, OK 73126-0901
• Email:
  Evan-Floyd@ouhsc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Performing Organization:
  University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f743aa7f7248df73ec5be935a4c0ffdcbea791ffd6d050552d9f03563795cb8813c3b08b2e38d105fc9d033ef45f1fc31da7e5697fc021183314b996e9bc76fc
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211291/cdc_211291_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 841.23 KB ]