I. Facial Hair and the Fire Service

A. The enforcement division of CAL OSHA has informed the Diamond Springs-El Dorado Fire Protection District that facial hair which contacts any portion of the facepiece seal of self contained breathing apparatus is unacceptable, and shall not be allowed. Title 8, Section 5144c of the General Industry Safety Orders states in part that "Respirators shall be inspected before each use and shall not be worn when conditions prevent a good gas-tight face seal." CAL OSHA has ruled that facial hair which contacts the facepiece seal prevents a good gas-tight seal. CAL OSHA fines of $7,000 initially and $7,000 per day can be incurred. Employers and supervisors can be held personally liable for knowingly allowing violations of these regulations to occur.

B. According to the International Fire Service Training Association text titled Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus , "Long sideburns, mustaches, beards, or hair over the forehead that comes in contact with the seal prevents the facepiece from sealing properly...OSHA, NIOSH, NFPA, and ANSI all require or recommend that firefighters wear short hair and be clean shaven."

II. Facial Hair Standard

A. Facial hair which contacts any portion of the facepiece seal of self contained breathing apparatus is prohibited for all active fire personnel.

B. All personnel reporting for duty and /or responding to or operating at incidents of any type shall be clean shaven. For the purposes of this standard, clean shaven shall mean an accumulation of not more than a one day growth of beard.

C. Mustaches and sideburns that do not contact the facepiece seal shall be allowed.

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