Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE)

Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) is a protective device that covers the worker’s nose and mouth or the entire face and head to keep airborne contaminants out of the worker’s respiratory system and provide a safe air supply.

Employees wearing tight-fitting facepiece respirators must be clean shaven to ensure facial hair does not come between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or interfere with valve function. Short mustaches, sideburns, and small goatees that are neatly trimmed so that no hair compromises the seal of the respirator usually do not present a hazard. Respirators that do not require a face seal, can be worn with facial hair, such as loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators and hooded powered air-purifying respirators.