Hacker News Reader

Never though about it that way. There are many other jobs that expose their workers to airborne chemicals. One that comes to mind immediately is anything near urban traffic.

Could society adapt for those workers to start wearing masks or similar protection. Doctors do that all the time, why not hairdressers?

View on HN

Because doctors don't wear masks to protect themselves. They wear them to protect the patients and avoid spreading diseases.

Because doctors don't wear masks to protect themselves.

Of course they do, because they are also humans vulnerable to diseases. Even more so because they are exposed daily and are usually not the ones introducing diseases into the environment. The masks protect both the patient and the doctor. Mask can also protect doctors from chemicals they might be routinely exposed to.

In any case, they wear masks. Your comment is a red herring. The important part is the social stigma of (not) wearing masks and how to prevent it.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com