This study is recruiting Sikh men with facial hair to help test the Singh Thattha technique – a method to allow individuals with facial hair to wear tight-fitting respirators.
Thank you to all those who participated, and to all key stakeholders, Sikh community groups and community members, who have supported this project. We have collected a total of 210 participants across Ontario, exceeding our goal.
Thank you to the following sites that have hosted our study:
Men with facial hair are currently not able to wear tight-fitting respirators in Ontario workplaces, which could limit job opportunities for those who are unable to shave. The goal of this study is to evaluate the Singh Thattha technique, which uses an over-the-beard covering to improve respirator fit among men with facial hair. If effective, this technique could increase the options available for men with facial hair who need to wear respirators.
For more details on the study and study methods, please visit the FAQ page.
Contact principal investigator, Tracy Kirkham (tracy.kirkham@ontariohealth.ca) for more information.
The Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) C/O Ontario Health (OH) is collecting this information pursuant to section 39 (2) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) for the purposes of evaluating the Singh Thatta technique among bearded Sikh men. The information collected during this research study will be published in scientific journals and presented to the scientific community.
If you have any questions or concerns about this collection of information, please contact the Principal Investigator of the study, Dr. Tracy Kirkham at tracy.kirkham@ontariohealth.ca or the Study Coordinator, Diljot Sethi at diljot.sethi@ontariohealth.ca.
This project is funded by a non-competitive grant from the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
This study is supported by the World Sikh Organization (WSO) of Canada, the Ontario Sikh & Gurudwara Council (OSGC), and Brampton First Aid CPR. The project was developed with input from an Advisory Committee composed of key stakeholders, community members, occupational hygienists, health and safety experts, and researchers.
View Project Advisory Committee
