BCFMWU participates in WorkSafeBC consultation on respirator rules

BCFMWU President Eric McNeely spoke at Tuesday’s WorkSafeBC public hearing on proposed changes to section 8.39 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The amendment removes the “clean shaven” requirement for tight-fitting respirators and replaces it with interference-based language.

The union supports the change as a step forward. But McNeely also made it clear there’s more work ahead to ensure the regulation reflects modern respirator technology, international standards and the need to accommodate workers who can’t shave for religious, medical or cultural reasons.

He highlighted that several internationally certified SCBA systems already allow safe use with facial hair, including models approved in the UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand and Alberta. These systems can meet or exceed the protection of traditional North American SCBAs.

The union encouraged WorkSafeBC to continue modernizing part 8, support pilot testing in B.C. and adopt performance-based language so regulators can consider future technologies and validated methods as evidence emerges.

You can read Eric’s full remarks here.