I recently had a client for a fit test ask, “Why aren’t respirators designed for how people are?” In context we were talking about how men need to be clean shaven for a proper fit with a respirator. My response was, “They are.”
Respirators were designed to meet a purpose, to protect people being exposed to hazardous atmospheres. We need to work in silica, asbestos, biological hazards, toxic gases, etcetera… we are not built for these environments, they give us chronic disease or kill us. It was decided that for the good of the society we live in, and for our choice of work, that we need to work with and in these hazards. When it was decided as a society that injuring or killing workers was not a benefit to all, we started protecting workers.
We tried to eliminate the hazards wherever we can, that trend continues to this day with automation.
We developed engineering controls, ventilation, and air filters to name two.
We created administrative tools where we could measure the hazards and to change the behaviours that led to the less optimal outcomes, hazard analysis, work procedures, gas & particulate testing, and safe work procedures.
Then when that does or cannot work, or when the risks of failure are just too high, we wear our personal protective equipment, our respirators. Respirators are designed as well as they can be for now, given the constraints of effectiveness, cost and comfort. At some time will they be made for men who have facial hair, maybe, probably, until then we use the equipment we have.
Respirators, and all our attempts at mitigation, meet us where we are, in our work and need. They are designed for how people are, we are working in hazardous atmospheres, and we need to protect ourselves.