User Panel
Posted: 3/9/2019 1:33:21 PM EDT
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Atlantic-City-Firefighter-Beard-Born-Again-Christian-Lawsuit-506832291.html
A New Jersey firefighter has filed a civil rights lawsuit alleging that he is being forced to shave a beard he says he grew for religious reasons. NJ.com reports that Atlantic City firefighter Alexander Smith says in his lawsuit he began growing out his beard in December as a born-again Christian. He says the department is threatening to suspend him without pay. Fire department guidelines prohibit beards and goatees, saying facial hair can affect the seal of the breathing mask firefighters wear while battling fires. Smith requested an accommodation for the beard Jan. 3, but the city denied his request Feb. 15, citing "overwhelming safety concerns." |
|
His body, his choice.
If he wants to die of CO poisoning, let him. |
|
|
|
Quick question:
Do Sikhs get to have beards and turbans working for that same department? Do Muslims? Somehow I think this would be okay for certain exalted demographics. |
|
|
Quoted:
But it doesnt. People pass all the time . Ambulance company pulled the same where I worked. If it was abiut keeping you safe you would wear a motorcycle helmet in the rig View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes |
|
|
Let the dumb fuck grow it and the next time he goes into a smoke filled building he will die because his acba won’t be air tight.
Problem solves itself |
|
Hey Medicfrost, I recognize your avatar. Its the motel6 service dog shootr.
nice |
|
Quoted:
His body, his choice. If he wants to die of CO poisoning, let him. View Quote The thousands receiving and suing for 9-11 benefits are a prime example. Every firefighter knows to don their mask when they go into a fire or a hazardous environment but somehow the rules went out the window on 9-11 and in the weeks and months to follow. An old friend was with the FDNY and he grew out his beard and his Captain told him to tone it down big time for the same reason, mask sealing issues. Whether it does or does not compromise the mask seal is not the issue as it is the safety rule that has been adopted. Well he pushed back and was told shave it or get a rip and continue to get rips until you comply or get suspended. He complied and shaved it down. |
|
Quoted:
But it doesnt. People pass all the time . Ambulance company pulled the same where I worked. If it was abiut keeping you safe you would wear a motorcycle helmet in the rig View Quote For a SCBA, it's typically 10,000. When I ran rescue squads, if you weren't in the 100,000s, you got a new mask or didn't pass. It does fucking matter when you're in the middle of a burning building with a life threatening amount of scalding hot gases and fumes. |
|
Quoted:
If you were in a cloud of potassium cyanide, would you rather or rather not have a beard between you and the mask seal? View Quote |
|
Quoted: Sorry, but that is dumb. The safety rules are not their just to protect you but the other fire fighters as well. If one asshole goes down because he is not wearing his gear properly he endangers the others when they have to comes save his ass. We also know that if someone suffers some type of injury when not wearing their gear they would be looking for a handout or to sue. The thousands receiving and suing for 9-11 benefits are a prime example. Every firefighter knows to don their mask when they go into a fire or a hazardous environment but somehow the rules went out the window on 9-11 and in the weeks and months to follow. An old friend was with the FDNY and he grew out his beard and his Captain told him to tone it down big time for the same reason, mask sealing issues. Whether it does or does not compromise the mask seal is not the issue as it is the safety rule that has been adopted. Well he pushed back and was told shave it or get a rip and continue to get rips until you comply or get suspended. He complied and shaved it down. View Quote |
|
At least he does claim to be a Viking/worship a raven or thunderbolt/ type of beard.
lol |
|
Quoted:
You can throw out whatever doomsday scenario you want. Department down the road makes them clean shave but the Draeger masks have cracks in them. Its about appearance. Make it about appearance and dont cite BS safety to justify it. We have people test with beards and pass. I myself shave clean. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted:
If you were in a cloud of potassium cyanide, would you rather or rather not have a beard between you and the mask seal? |
|
|
Quoted:
Is that a real thing here? Do they face fit through a straw to make osha happy lol View Quote If he wants to keep his beard, he can become a janitor or quit. Good luck getting on another full time department because every department I have seen, even a majority of volunteer departments, are upfront about no beards. |
|
|
Quoted:
Find another job View Quote You're not owed a job, it's not a right. If you can't wear a respirator, you can't do the job. Motherfucker is the kind of guy who thinks going down in a fire and having to be rescued by those who actually give a shit is an okay situation. Obviously only gives a shit about himself, and can also GFH. |
|
Quoted: It's not his body his choice when he has teammates relying on him and may wind up having to rescue his dumb ass. View Quote be breathed into the lungs. One, two, three times with inadequate protection might not be enough to cause any harm, however over the course ones career breathing in that shit can catch up with a person. Depending on what state laws exist that covers firefighter safety, the department/community could be on the hook for additional health benefits and payouts. A number of states have enacted 'heart Lung' bills to address the issue of high rates of work related cancer and heart disease amongst firefighters and other public safety personnel. firefighter heart and lung bill |
|
Quoted:
His body, his choice. If he wants to die of CO poisoning, let him. View Quote |
|
Improper face mask seal and you can get hurt or die because you are breathing in toxic gases. Not many religions ask you to get hurt except the ROP.
|
|
Quoted:
But it doesnt. People pass all the time . Ambulance company pulled the same where I worked. If it was abiut keeping you safe you would wear a motorcycle helmet in the rig View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted:
In before the facial hair does not effect mask seal crowd. My brother in law had to shave his beard because he kept failing his fit tests. |
|
|
Quoted:
Nope. If he wants to die of CO poisoning on his OWN time, that's his business. If he wants to die of CO poisoning while he's supposed to be pulling people out of a burning building, that's the taxpayers' business. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted:
His body, his choice. If he wants to die of CO poisoning, let him. |
|
Please explain what part of being a born again Christian mandates a beard? I must have missed that in the Bible.
|
|
He doesn't even go to fires. He's a full-time mask maintenance dude. He says the only time he goes to a fire scene is to fill bottles.
Lol. It helps to read the article I guess. |
|
My college roommate was a fireman and had a beard after college.
He got chlorine gas into his air mask during a pulpmill accident. It took several days to kill him, I understand it's a terrible way to go. They changed the rules after. |
|
|
|
|
|
Quoted:
Please explain what part of being a born again Christian mandates a beard? I must have missed that in the Bible. View Quote |
|
|
Quoted:
My college roommate was a fireman and had a beard after college. He got chlorine gas into his air mask during a pulpmill accident. It took several days to kill him, I understand it's a terrible way to go. They changed the rules after. View Quote Great was the weeping and gnashing of teeth, the policy stayed in place about twenty years. It was changed after I left, that each plant and crew, had to have minimum of two clean shaved personnel at all times. Razors were on hand for all, with the understanding that anyone may have to shave if extra hands were needed, no exceptions. |
|
Quoted:
Let the dumb fuck grow it and the next time he goes into a smoke filled building he will die because his acba won’t be air tight. Problem solves itself View Quote |
|
Quoted:
He doesn't even go to fires. He's a full-time mask maintenance dude. He says the only time he goes to a fire scene is to fill bottles. Lol. It helps to read the article I guess. View Quote His official job title is a firefighter, which requires him to be clean shaven. And just because his current assignment is as the mask dude, doesn't mean that's his job within the department for as long as he want's it. He can be reassigned at any time and he was no right to complain about it. If he still doesn't like it, then fine, create a special non-firefighter civilian position that doesn't require the duties of a firefighter at a much lower pay scale. See how he likes that. |
|
|
Quoted:
But it doesnt. People pass all the time . Ambulance company pulled the same where I worked. If it was abiut keeping you safe you would wear a motorcycle helmet in the rig View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes |
|
|
|
Quoted:
If you were in a cloud of KCN you'd probably have prison officials around you... View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted:
If you were in a cloud of potassium cyanide, would you rather or rather not have a beard between you and the mask seal? |
|
Quoted:
He doesn't even go to fires. He's a full-time mask maintenance dude. He says the only time he goes to a fire scene is to fill bottles. Lol. It helps to read the article I guess. View Quote The department should either change the job description of the air resource tech or start requiring him to rotate to a seat on a fire rig. I would be doing that just for proficiency if he still held the role of FF. |
|
Quoted:
But it doesnt. People pass all the time . Ambulance company pulled the same where I worked. If it was abiut keeping you safe you would wear a motorcycle helmet in the rig View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes |
|
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.