The Washington DC Fire Department has a safety regulation that firefighters must be clean-shaven. Seven firefighters, including members of the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Nazarene faiths, have banded together to sue to keep their beards on religious grounds.
In October 2007, the firefighters sued and won in the DC District Court, but the city is appealing the finding.
Quotes
You cannot have facial hair and expect to have a quality seal on your facemask. We're certainly not trying to suppress anyone's right to express themselves religiously. We have to keep people safe.--DC Fire and EMS spokesman Alan EtterJerusalem Post: Fighting for their whiskers (September 19, 2008)
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
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Fact:
FD argues that beards interfere with gas and oxygen masksJerusalem Post: Fighting for their whiskers (September 19, 2008)
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Fact:
Court found that was the case only in exceptional circumstancesJerusalem Post: Fighting for their whiskers (September 19, 2008)
