A technique developed and trialled by staff at the RMH to enable healthcare workers with beards that cannot be shaved for religious reasons to properly wear a N95 mask has been approved for use in Victoria.
The two-year trial of the Singh Thattha technique was officially given the green tick by the Victorian government last week, enabling healthcare staff with beards for medical, cultural or religious reasons to continue working in areas where N95 masks are needed.
The technique requires staff members to specially prepare their beard so that it is smooth, and then cover it with a plastic band. This acts like an artificial skin, which the mask is then placed on.
It was developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for healthcare workers to wear N95 masks, which have to be properly fitted to the face to protect both the wearer and patients from infection.
The RMH’s Occupation Hygienist and OHS Consultant Charles Bodas (pictured below, second from the left) is part of the team who spearheaded the trial and said it was exciting to see their work amount to change.
“It’s great to get some validation of all the work we’ve been doing to fit test people from across Victoria,” Mr Bodas said.
“We acknowledge it’s not a universal solution, but these people are dedicated to their craft and keen to participate and take the learnings on.”
Mr Bodas said the method was another tool in the infection prevention toolkit, alongside other controls like ventilation improvements and vaccination, with the focus on the individual,
“The band acts as an interface so the respirator is not on the hair, but on the ‘fake’ skin,” he explained.
“There’s a strict protocol and a lot for the participant to learn in terms of how to prepare their beard and don and doff (put on and take off according to infection prevention protocols).”
Mr Bodas said the trial had been extremely successful, with over 245 staff from across Victoria coming to the RMH to learn the technique.
“For some people having facial hair is a core part of their religious identity… and we’ve had some great feedback as a result,” he said.
“It’s important to make sure our workplace is inclusive and to make sure we maximise workforce participation in a measured and safe manner.”
Premier Jacinta Allan said the trial, and resulting change, was a “significant step forward in making our healthcare system culturally inclusive for all our hardworking staff”.
“The ongoing advocacy from our dedicated multicultural health workers and local Sikh community members has played an important part in the success of this trial and will go a long way to keeping Victorians safe,” she said.
The Victorian trial follows other national and international research into alternative methods for wearing a mask with a beard.
The example image of men using the Singh Thattha technique while wearing face masks was originally published our article announcing the study in 2022.
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