Firefighters with Beards is so 1850

What I thought was the same story shared multiple times turns out to be a growing tsunami of firefighters wanting to sport a beard on duty.

Or so I thought.

The first story that wandered into the feeds was Atlantic City where Firefighter Alexander Smith officially requested a waiver from the Department's grooming standards, citing a religious reason for growing the beard.  The Department rejected the request citing "overwhelming safety concerns."

Some quick research on the topic brought up a number of stories and this great take fromBrad Phillips over at  the Combo Chief "I Don't Like Your Face!"  Go have a quick read and wander back.

Real quick for those not in the know, firefighters wear an air mask as part of a breathing system called an SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus).  It is very similar to SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) in that it has a high pressure tank of air (not oxygen), a regulator that makes the high pressure breathable and a way of releasing air as you inhale.  On a Firefighter's apparatus, a mask sits against our faces, creating a seal.  As we inhale, the seal creates a vacuum and triggers the regulator to give a breath of air.  As we exhale, the valve closes and the exhaled air pushes the seal of the mask up and the air escapes.  Without a good seal on the mask the regulator will stay open causing a steady flow of air, draining the tank far faster.  On a SCUBA tank the regulator is in your mouth, so facial hair isn't an issue.

If a firefighter has a beard, the mask may not seat properly and create a seal.  While many a firefighter claims a bit of stubble won't make a difference, a great deal more have failed mask fitting evaluation with stubble.  However, some have passed, more on that in a moment.

So here's the trouble I have with the Atlantic City story.  Firefighter Smith is not assigned to a suppression assignment according to the story.  That means he is not in a position to need to don a mask in a dangerous scenario.  Should he be able to wear the beard in that position?  I would argue yes, but there would need to be a clear separation in the rules and regulations for that position.  If he returns to a front line position, the beard needs to go.

Firefighter Smith is assigned to the air unit, the unit responsible for mask fitting and replacing empty bottles at a fire.

If there is no separation in the rules, I have to side with the Department here, regardless of the reason for the beard, which seems to be everyone's sticking point.  I don't care if he's growing the beard for charity, religion or because he lost a Super Bowl bet, grooming standards for safety of front line firefighters supersede your reason to not shave.

Then there's this:

4 FDNY Firefighters sue to keep stubble based on medical condition and pass mask fit test.  OSHA mandates that the"...employer shall not permit respirators with tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by employees who have … [f]acial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function; or … [a]ny condition that interferes with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function."

But if they pass the fitting test they should be able to work, right?

Tough spot.  If the employees can pass an independent mask fit test I have to be on their side.

Again, they are not shaving for a medical condition, not style or religion, the reason doesn't matter.  Could this be the first reassessment of outdated OSHA policies that didn't change with mask technology?

Is this an opportunity for SCOTT, MSA and other manufacturers to come up with a mask specifically for stubble beards?

How can we as managers enforce rules that are demonstrated to be challenged and convince command to adapt and evolve?

I feel to properly consider these questions I need a beard to stroke as I gaze out a window thoughtfully.  But then I'd get in trouble at work.