It’s a shame for the ‘look’, but fortunately it’s for safety reasons. A bearded firefighter puts himself at risk, and this is what is prompting more and more regional fire and rescue services (SDIS) to speak out against this trend. Recently, a memo has even been circulated in fire stations across Belgium. It reiterates the specifications provided by mask manufacturers, which… emphasise that large beards can compromise the seal of the masks and thus their effectiveness.
In a memo circulated in early November to all fire stations in the Oise department, firefighters were banned from growing facial hair. This was said to hinder the proper use of breathing masks. It was a decision that Yannick Ruaux, chairman of the ‘Syndicat Autonome 60’ trade union, did not understand, "Our mask supplier allows us to wear beards. Even if there’s a leak, there’s a risk of excessive oxygen consumption, but it’s by no means an immediate danger.", he told our colleagues at the Courrier Picard.
Several reactions criticised this measure, particularly on social media. However, even the law itself, in a decree dated 8 April 2015, stipulates that, "Shaving is compulsory before starting work; in the specific case of those wearing a beard or moustache, these must be neatly trimmed to ensure that protective face masks can be worn effectively". Whilst security begins with information, it is priceless.