Epidemiologist moots 'maskie' beard style, as health workers reminded to shave

Friday, 4 February 2022

Tattoo artist Harry Jull has to curate his beard to fit his mask while working with clients.

Bearded health workers have been issued a reminder to trim up.

The Southern District Health Board recently told staff they need to be “mostly clean-shaven” so that their masks fit securely around their face as part of WorkSafe’s health advice.

“Staff have been advised that they may not have beards in clinical settings… they must be mostly clean-shaven. Facial hair that fits within a respirator sealing surface is acceptable,” a SDHB spokesperson told Stuff.

A spokesperson for all 20 district health boards confirmed staff are expected to have their masks fitted securely and to remove facial hair if required.

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Professor Michael Baker empathised with bearded individuals and said perhaps a new facial hair trend – the ‘maskie’ – was on the horizon.

They added this mandate for the DHBs has been in place since the 2020 outbreak, but some boards may be reminding staff as the Omicron variant spread further.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a detailed guide for what facial hair is compatible with proper mask-wearing.

“It is a clear requirement that a mask has to be tight-fitting. The whole point is the mask has to fit snug and if there is facial hair sprouting out all over the place, then it is not a snug fit.”

The health sector isn't the first industry to take the hairy issue seriously.

In August, police chiefs issued an internal instruction that all officers must be clean-shaven when wearing an N95 mask during Alert Level 4. Any frontline officers with beards were to remove them.

Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker said beard mandates for mask-wearing in industries working with sick or vulnerable people was sensible.

“Having a lot of facial hair is seriously going to damage the performance of masks. There are standards that need to be met with masks, and you have to fairly brutalise a beard to make them fit these standards.”

Baker said any mask is better than nothing, however there were certain industries that required more attention to masks being fit for purpose. These were aged-care facilities, health industry workers and those working in education.

“Anyone caring for the sick or vulnerable people will need to take care that they are using a high-quality mask with a good fit around their face,” Baker said, “This would mean paying attention to their facial hair.”

Tattoo artist Harry Jull says his beard is part of his identity after seven years together.

“If you want to avoid spreading the virus, or you work in a critical role, then you do have to wear a high-performing mask near people and lose the beard.”

Baker said there needed to be an element of judgment on beard mandates. For example, baristas working around healthy colleagues and customers could probably keep their facial hair.

Masks have two jobs, he said: protect the wearer and protect anyone they come in contact with. The key was to stop droplets escaping or spreading, and beards can cause a mask to open and let air escape.

“There is no getting around the fact that patches of the skin are covered in hair, and it doesn't fit securely.”

Baker sympathised with bearded individuals and speculated a new facial hair trend may be on the horizon.

“I think rather than the goatee we are looking at the ‘maskie’.

“It does seem a pity if you've spent years growing it, but I don't know if there is anything else you can do in that situation.”

Wānaka tattoo artist and chef Harry Jull has been growing his beard for seven years before the mask mandate came in for his industry late last year.

Covering it meant losing part of his identity, he said. He tried six different masks before he found a good fit.

“The real issue for me is how it has forced it to grow these days. It grows differently. It has stopped the growth on my chin and forced it to grow down the sides.”

“It’s bloody annoying with the moustache growing. It pushes the hairs up in to your nose and just makes your nose itchy all the time.”

Although the mandate made working a little more difficult, client safety was his priority.

“We are up close and personal with people, so we have to maintain their safety. We wear our masks day in and day out.”