Firm enforces asbestos health and safety

Hertel Services sent home 15 members of staff recently because they were not clean shaven, which was a breach of the company's health and safety rules, it has been reported.

The employees, who were working on an asbestos-removal project, were told their stubble meant the respiratory seals they required would not be effective and were ordered off the site for their own safety, according to the Whitehaven News.

A spokesman for the company told the news provider the staff were aware being clean-shaven was one of the health and safety regulations designed to protect their wellbeing.

"When working with asbestos, or in an environment where asbestos may be found, it is essential that workers are clean-shaven to ensure safety masks seal on the face. Failure to be clean-shaven is a clear breach of health and safety," the representative said.

Asbestos is a mineral that was commonly used in the construction industry in the 1970s and when inhaled, can lead to diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestositis and lung cancer.