Clean Shaven for Tanker?

I have taken 6 different classes on mask use. 3 when working for military in Iraq for chemical warfare and 3 others for oil field. Every one of them has had exact same requirements. No facial hair other than trimmed mustache. I never see any full time firemen/women in Ft Worth, Dallas, Arlington, Houston, etc with any type of beard. Volunteer may get away with it. Chances are one in a hundred thousand you will ever need it. But they and their insurance require it. End of story.

 

Guess it all depends on the company.
We have no facial hair restrictions with the company I pull for or any at any of the refineries we pull out of. Just standard PPE gear that's all.

 

The reason some plants and refineries require clean shaven truckers is they first enforced it on their union employees and then had to listen to the same employees gripe about truckers w/ a days growth. The refinery doesn't care if you can wear a respirator or not!

 

There's a name for people without beards............women.

 

The reason given for no facial hair when hauling hazardous tankers was because the respirator wouldn't seal.

 

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=12716&p_table=standards

For your reading pleasure. It all gets down to an OSHA thing for any job that requires or may require the use of a respirator.

Here's the part about why you have to shave. ​

[B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B][B][URL="http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owalink.query_links?src_doc_type=STANDARDS&src_unique_file=1910_0134&src_anchor_name=1910.134(g)"]1910.134(g)[/URL][INDENT][B][I]Use of respirators.[/I][/B] This paragraph requires employers to establish and implement procedures for the proper use of respirators. These requirements include prohibiting conditions that may result in facepiece seal leakage, preventing employees from removing respirators in hazardous environments, taking actions to ensure continued effective respirator operation throughout the work shift, and establishing procedures for the use of respirators in IDLH atmospheres or in interior structural firefighting situations.[/INDENT][B][COLOR=#757575]1910.134(g)(1)[/COLOR][INDENT][B][I]Facepiece seal protection.[/I][/B][/INDENT][B][URL="http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owalink.query_links?src_doc_type=STANDARDS&src_unique_file=1910_0134&src_anchor_name=1910.134(g)(1)(i)"]1910.134(g)(1)(i)[/URL][INDENT]The employer shall not permit respirators with tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by employees who have:[/INDENT][B][URL="http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owalink.query_links?src_doc_type=STANDARDS&src_unique_file=1910_0134&src_anchor_name=1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A)"]1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A)[/URL][INDENT]Facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function; or[/INDENT][B][COLOR=#757575]1910.134(g)(1)(i)(B)[/COLOR][INDENT]Any condition that interferes with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function.[/INDENT][B][URL="http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owalink.query_links?src_doc_type=STANDARDS&src_unique_file=1910_0134&src_anchor_name=1910.134(g)(1)(ii)"]1910.134(g)(1)(ii)[/URL][INDENT]If an employee wears corrective glasses or goggles or other personal protective equipment, the employer shall ensure that such equipment is worn in a manner that does not interfere with the seal of the facepiece to the face of the user.[/INDENT][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B]