A MAINTENANCE firm came under fire yesterday for its “hair-raising” ban on beards.

Builders employed by contractor Mears in east London were told at a “tool box talk” that beards were now banned and that workers have to be clean shaven in order to wear a tight-fitting face mask when working in dusty environments.

A letter from a company boss, seen by the Morning Star, states: “This is now a Mears nationwide policy for the entire company … Anybody not adhering to the policy will be taken down the disciplinary route.”

The company will only make exceptions for medical and religious reasons — though its guidance says a goatee may be acceptable.

Bosses demand evidence in the form of “medical certificate” or a letter from a “church/mosque/synagogue/ temple etc” but say that “this is not a disclaimer” and exception is “not guaranteed.”

But general union Unite, which represents Mears workers, said there were plenty of masks which could be safely used by bearded individuals.

Reps accused bosses of “penny-pinching stupidity” in threatening to inflame a “highly sensitive issue” through only being willing to pay for cheap, tight-fitting masks.

“The arrogance of Mears is hair-raising,” Unite officer Mark Soave said. “Other forms of masks are available and these should be offered to existing workers. Mears needs to withdraw this decree and enter into a proper consultation with Unite and the workforce.”

Beard wearers’ network the Beard Liberation Front organiser Keith Flett said: “This is an absurd and discriminatory policy by a cost-cutting employer.

“There are dust masks that can be safely worn with facial hair but Mears wont provide them.

“Perhaps surprisingly in many US states this would be illegal, but is probably quite legal in the UK sadly.

“Hopefully when he becomes prime minister veteran beard wearer Jeremy Corbyn will bring in legislation to outlaw discrimination on the basis of appearance.”

Mears Group health and safety director Mark Elkington said: “We are pretty surprised that Unite, which claims to have the safety of workers at heart, have taken this disappointing stance.

“Every employer in the UK has a legal responsibility to ensure that employees working in dusty or otherwise potentially hazardous environments are properly protected and in recent years employers have been prosecuted for failing to fulfil this duty.

“The simple fact is that no dust mask can work effectively unless it forms a seal against the skin. That is not possible with a beard or even heavy stubble.”