Beard

can a firefighter have beard???

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sam Little on October 15, 2013 at 10:53am

In both departments I work on a beard is allowed only if it does not impede operation of the SCBA and a good seal of the mask.

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Permalink Reply by captnjak on October 15, 2013 at 1:56pm

A policy that says beards are OK as long as they don't interfere with SCBA is really not a policy at all.

How can a beard NOT interfere with facepiece seal?

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Permalink Reply by Mitchell Denhartog on October 15, 2013 at 3:26pm

i suppose by that you mean i'm a volunteer?

for what its worth, yes i am, but i don't see what difference it makes at a fire

the firs doesn't care if you are paid, volunteer, male, female, black, white, old, young, it will burn you just the same

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Permalink Reply by captnjak on October 15, 2013 at 7:29pm

No, I don't mean that you're a volunteer. That's not what I meant. Or said.

No, it doesn't make a difference at a fire.

You are right. The fire doesn't care what you are. It will hurt you if you let it. Especially if you help it out by wearing SCBA facepiece over a beard.

That's what I mean.

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Permalink Reply by Mitchell Denhartog on October 16, 2013 at 1:57am

sorry... didn't mean to fly off the handle at that... i get a lot of grief about not being a real firefighter because i'm a volunteer... my apologies for reading too much into your post...

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Permalink Reply by John Gallagher on October 17, 2013 at 11:38am

In the mid 70's New York instituted a grooming policy. No beards and hair cannot pass the shirt collar. I'm wondering if certain groups could file discrimination lawsuits. Sikh's, muslims, amish and some jewish sects require the wearing of a beard. I guess the department could always argue that safety has to be the number 1 concern. Is it possible to get a good seal if your wearing a fire retardent hood?

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Permalink Reply by captnjak on October 17, 2013 at 12:45pm

Hood is not supposed to be worn UNDER the facepiece seal. Facepiece goes on and then hood over on the outside.

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Permalink Reply by John Gallagher on October 17, 2013 at 7:50pm

Well that answers that question. Thanks captnjak.

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Permalink Reply by capcityff on October 20, 2013 at 8:34am

Yes, they can file discrimination lawsuits. It's happened here. Then randomly in the past year, our chief announced we can have 1/4" thickness facial hair. Our chief is also a moron though. We also don't need to follow OSHA though in DC.

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Permalink Reply by Don Catenacci on October 20, 2013 at 4:12pm

It is asimple fact that not one single manufacturer of SCBA approves the use of their product with facial hair that isbetween the seal of the mask and your skin. No regulatory agency, NFPA, OSHA, MSHA, or any other that I am aware of approves this. My state has adopted the NFPA standard as administrative code so it isn't even in the hands of the fire chief to allow it anymore, but many still do despite taking the entire liability issue onto their shoulders.

It is as simple as this, if you want to be a firefighter shave the beard. if you don't want to shave your beard find something ese to do.

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Permalink Reply by capcityff on October 23, 2013 at 12:16pm

This isn't my opinion. This is how it is. The District isn't a state and does not need to follow OSHA. Our order book allowed 1/4" or something like that. I'm not 100% sure on the length because I don't have a beard but that's just how it is.

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Permalink Reply by Don Catenacci on October 24, 2013 at 12:59pm

And that 1/4 is political correctness run rampant. What haoens when someone goes down from smoke inhalation or toxic exposure with their beard? The District hasn't got a leg to stand on to protect itself.