Author Topic: Goatee beards and sideburns (Read 8035 times)

Kaiser · « **on:** October 18, 2007, 10:33:47 PM »

I have a colleaugue who is currently in dispute with the brigade regarding his large sideburns and goatee beard. He has been informed that he must trim them or shave them off, he says that they don't interfere with his face mask seal so he is ok. Is there any official guidance in a DCOL or FSC anywhere that can clarify the situation at all???

kurnal · « **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 2007, 08:09:24 AM »

How does he know they don't interfere with the seal?
Is the shape the sideburns and beard such that the seal doesn't lie over it?
If its under the seal he hasn't a leg to stand on.
If its not then he may have the basis for a complaint of harassment.

What goes round comes round - this was a regular one in the early 70s. Then the Home office or CACFOA produced photofit type drawings to show what was acceptable and what was not. Funny thing was the acceptable picture was of a good looking guy with a smart haircut and the unacceptable was an ugly brute with a big nose and protruding chin and scruffy hair style.

My old LFF said at the time "Why do you want to cultivate on your face something that grows wild in the nick of your ass."

Big T · « **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2007, 03:33:50 PM »

Its a positive pressure set, would it really matter if it was under the seal?

In my opinion he shouldn't have them. Fire service issue tash maybe.

short hair, sideburns to the centre of the ear, clean shaven or a mistache ending level with or above the corner of the mouth. Smashing. Soppy hair and sideburns? Be a paramedic or a hospital porter.

Dragonmaster · « **Reply #3 on:** October 19, 2007, 03:53:07 PM »

Even with a positive pressure set, any leakage will reduce the working duration of the set.

No2 on the clippers is best!

kurnal · « **Reply #4 on:** October 19, 2007, 05:54:12 PM »

The positive pressure is a risk control measure. In accordance with the principles of prevention and the whole ethos of Health and Safety at Work, we should eliminate all hazards and avoid risk if we possible can. Yes it may be safe with Positive Pressure, but it would be safer if we dont undermine the seal in the first case. The employer therefore has no option.
How would you feel if the employer chose not to replace a worn or split seal to save money, because he can take account of the wide margin of safety provided by the positive pressure?

Kaiser · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2007, 06:08:37 PM »

these are pretty much all of the comments that have been thrown around over the mess table at work, I personally think that if he does a face fit test in accordance with standard operating proceedures and the seal is good then it is irrelevant if he has a goatee beard or longer sideburns. The seal os the most important issue here I think but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced any issues of this nature and wondered how they had been dealt with.

Chris Houston · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2007, 07:05:40 PM »

Heard some similar conversations in the normal office environment. Bloke in question told his employers that unless they were gonna have a blanket ban on facial hair for women and men, he would sue for sexual discrimination!

Mr. P · « **Reply #7 on:** October 22, 2007, 10:06:15 AM »

Have seen cases where the natural hair growth at the temple area interfered with mask seal.

Midland Retty · « **Reply #8 on:** October 22, 2007, 03:16:18 PM »

Funny one this because I know a few firemen with goatees and they've had them for years.

Nothing has been said to them (well as far as Im aware). If it had been raised with them one pressumes they would have removed the beard.

And lets not forget good old Recall in london's Burning - he had a goatee.

I was told (unofficially) by my Station Commander that so long as you could still achieve a full seal facial hair would be allowed.

Could this be down perhaps to the individual make of a particular BA mask? I.e; some masks are better than others at accomodating facial hair? Who knows!

What is the requirement for any persons with religious beliefs which require they grow facial hair?

xan · « **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2007, 07:51:56 PM »

Goatee's have now been banned,due to a near miss,so everybody had to shave them off,even the girls.

nearlythere · « **Reply #10 on:** October 25, 2007, 10:56:45 AM »

Quote from: xan

Goatee's have now been banned,due to a near miss,so everybody had to shave them off,even the girls.

Can you still have horsee or cowee ones?

xan · « **Reply #11 on:** October 26, 2007, 02:50:23 PM »

Quote from: nearlythere

Quote from: xan
Goatee's have now been banned,due to a near miss,so everybody had to shave them off,even the girls.
Can you still have horsee or cowee ones?

I couldn't find it in the new 'guide', so I guess not!

Big T · « **Reply #12 on:** October 29, 2007, 02:13:41 PM »

Whatever happened to looking smart and removing all signs of individuality?

News:

Author Topic: Goatee beards and sideburns (Read 8035 times)

Chris Houston

Midland Retty