Safety Alert Facial Coverings 10/94 Background Committed to Safety Facial Coverings Background The use of face and neck coverings in the interior has been observed to be on the increase. Coverage of the face and neck with large amounts of cloth has been cited a contributory cause to a number of injuries, some of them severe. Personnel have not been able to see hazards adequately or have become tangled in the head covering. Recommendations to Prevent Recurrence The HSE Manual outlines the types of clothing allowed in field working environments. Loose fitting styles of clothing (including National Dress) are not suitable for field working environments. The practice of wearing face and neck coverings either under the safety helmet or around the face is banned. Where climatic conditions (i.e. dust storms) prevent safe work, then it will be prudent to suspend operations until conditions improve. PDO and contractor supervisors are responsible for ensuring the safety of employees. Workers should be counselled on the use of face and neck coverings and immediate steps should be taken to prevent the practice from being accepted.