SHIPYARD staff are being told to come in clean shaven or face being sent home.

The policy forms part of safety measures brought in nationally as workers in close proximity are told wear fitted face masks.

In order to form a seal, the wearer must be clean shaven.

It is understood the change only affects those working on the construction of submarines, not any other staff across the site who are able to social distance.

A number of shipyard workers are currently away from the site or are working from home during the coronavirus pandemic.

BAE said it was following the law in enforcing the ban on beards, with a clean shaven face essential for wearing a fitted mask, pointing to advice from the Health and Safety Executive.

According to HSE, workers should wear respiratory protective equipment for the purposes of planning to install engineering control, clearing up a spillage, maintenance, emergencies, cleaning, and whenever required for safe working.

The Health and Safety Executive said that poor-fitting respirators can be ‘a major cause of leaks’

“If there are any gaps around the edges of the mask, ‘dirty’ air will pass through these gaps and into your lungs,” it advised.

BAE has sent thousands of its staff home during the coronavirus crisis.

The company said staff working on the site would do so with appropriate protective equipment.

A spokesman said: “The health and safety of our employees remains our top priority.”

The site is currently working to build Astute and Dreadnought class submarine, which are ‘of strategic importance’ to the UK’.

A number of workers in other sectors have been told to get rid of facial hair to allow for protective equipment to fit properly.

“Beards, stubble and facial hair cause a common problem when using PPE face masks, as this can prevent the mask being able to seal to the face and passing the fit test,” said guidance from NHS Employers.

Cloth face coverings and surgical masks do not require a seal to work.