The Health and Safety Executive has issued a reminder on how to correctly fit facemasks as part of its coronavirus guidance.
Tight-fitting respirators (such as disposable FFP3 masks and reusable half-masks) rely on having a good seal with the wearer’s face. A face fit test should be carried out to ensure the respiratory protective equipment (RPE) can protect the wearer, the HSE says.
To make sure you have put on a tight-fitting respirator correctly, the HSE recommends using a mirror or ask a colleague. Fit-testers should follow government advice on social distancing, and making observations from 2m away and giving any instructions verbally.
The user should then carry out a pre-use seal check – this explained in a downloadable HSE poster available here.
There is an important warning on facial hair: users should be clean-shaven around the face seal to achieve an effective fit when using disposable respirators, the guidance says. Tight-fitting masks rely on a good seal against the face so that, when you breathe air in, it is drawn into the filter material where the air is cleaned. Beards and stubble make it impossible to get a good seal of the mask to the face.
The guidance adds that if there are good reasons for having a beard (such as for religious reasons), alternative forms of respirators that do not rely on a tight fit to the face are available and should be used.
The HSE coronavirus page includes guidance on a range of subjects, including RIDDOR reporting requirements for Covid-19, and employers’ responsibilities for protecting home workers.