OSHA Backs Religious Accommodation For COVID-19 Respirator Mandates

OSHA has released a new regulatory interpretation letter that says employers may allow workers who maintain facial hair because of a disability or closely-held religious belief to use loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) as alternatives to fitted N95 masks to protect against COVID-19 exposure. In a letter of interpretation , dated Dec. 16 but only recently posted online, OSHA’s acting Directorate of Enforcement Programs director Kimberly A. Stille responds to questions posed by an attorney at the Sikh Coalition, an...