Date: 202102
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.TRACON, US
Aircraft: No Aircraft
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Approach; Departure
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Workload
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
When detected: In-flight
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Primary problem: Environment - Non Weather Related

Narrative: I observed a Controller remove their glasses stating that they were fogging up from wearing their mask. This was during a moderately busy IFR; RVRs in effect; simultaneous instrument approach configuration. This configuration was more complex than normal caused by unusual winds and compression on final. Controllers were required to wear masks at this time due to positions not being distanced by six feet.On several other occasions; date and times not recorded; I've observed:-A Controller remove their mask stating they could not breathe and their glasses wear fogging up on a busy satellite push.- Controller's; including myself; headsets falling off from applying or removing mask.-Hear back; read back errors from masks garbling communication.-Distractions during a moderately busy arrival radar final session; a Controller hastily confronting another Controller for the manner in which they were wearing their mask.-Controllers stating they cannot take a deep breath.- A higher rate of non-compliance from surrounding sectors due to being unusually combined. For example: two weeks in a row; aircraft being issued wrong arrival and being four thousand feet lower than expected; in another controller's airspace and without a point out.There seems to be a conflict between personal safety and professional safety in the NAS.For personal protection; controllers are wearing masks which seems to be creating a potential impact to safety in the NAS.Hear back; read back is always a hot ticket item and at the top of our safety goals as an Agency. With the observations stated above; it seems to be the least of our potential safety concerns.As a facility; mitigations have been set in motion to separate each scope by the minimum requirement of six feet which will extremely help the glasses; mask; breathing; distraction issues stated above.I am deeply concerned for all of our personal safety relating to the health aspects of prolonged mask wearing; reduced access to pure oxygen and the daily exposure to the chemicals used in the virus prevention. But that's personal.Most concerning; and the reason I chose to finally file a report; is the potential risk to safety we are introducing to the NAS by ignoring these comments and actions that are happening daily just in this one facility. As a profession; we are highly sensitive to changes in the workplace; stress mitigation; distractions; compliance and safety; all of which are at risk when a controller cannot see or breathe.




Synopsis: TRACON Controller reported safety related issues with having to wear face masks while on position.