Thurston Fire Rescue Training Consortium

Firefighter 1 Recruit Academy
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Attire and Grooming Standards
 
Recruit Firefighters shall wear their Class B Uniform, department shirts or sweatshirts, or the TFRTC Academy shirt while attending classroom or practical skills sessions.  When attending any off-campus training, the Recruit Firefighter shall wear their Class B Uniform.  Workout clothing is allowed for classes that are anticipated to require physical exertion (ie. Wednesdays are PT Days). 
 
At no time shall the recruit wear clothing that is offensive or disrespectful.
 
The recruit firefighter will bring honor, respect, dignity, loyalty, and reverence to his or her department, academy, and company by wearing their attire with pride.
 

4-6.1.E  GROOMING STANDARDS AND GUIDANCE

 

Coincident to the importance of personal safety and the required use of PPE are the restrictions placed on students’ hair length, beards, and mustaches.

 

TFRTC grooming standards are consistent with the position requirements of firefighters without jeopardizing the safety of other firefighters who are engaged in hazardous activities associated with firefighting and the safety of life, or related activities.  In evaluating the competing interests of personal grooming preferences, as opposed to personal safety, the TFRTC is compelled, legally and morally, to rule in favor of safety standards designed to protect each firefighter.  All students enrolled in courses sponsored by the TFRTC, including FF1 Academy students, are required to accept these standards as a job requirement, which are in accordance with the Washington Administrative Code, as determined by a firefighters’ respective department/agency.  Individual fire agencies may, however, impose stricter requirements.

 

There are many hair styles that are acceptable within the fire service.  As long as a student’s hair is maintained in a neat manner at all times and under all conditions, the acceptability of style will be guided by the criteria listed below:

 

·         HAIR:  Hair on the top and sides of the head will be neatly groomed. The bulk or length of the hair must not interfere with the normal wearing of a standard uniform, including the cap or helmet.  For safety reasons, particular emphasis must be placed on a secure and snug fit of all protective equipment.  Hair length must not hinder the proper fit of any fire department head gear.                      

 

·         FACIAL HAIR:  The face will be clean shaven while on duty except as specified herein. 

 

o   Sideburns shall not extend downward beyond the lowest part of the earlobe.  Sideburns cannot attain a width of more than one and one-half inches, or to the point that they interfere with the seal of the SCBA mask face piece.

o   Mustaches, beards, facial hair shall be kept neatly trimmed.  Mustaches shall not extend laterally more than one-half inch from the corner of the mouth, or more than one-half inch below the corner of the mouth.  The mustache cannot extend more than one-quarter inch over the upper lip.

o   In accordance with WAC 246-221.117 .htm and 296-305-04001.htm, firefighters shall ensure that no objects, materials or substances, such as facial hair, or any conditions that interfere with the face-to-face piece seal or valve function, and that are under the control of the respirator wearer, are present between the skin of the wearer's face and the sealing surface of a tight-fitting respirator face piece.  A negative pressure respirator, any self-contained breathing apparatus, or any respirator which is used in an atmosphere immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) equipped with a face piece shall not be worn if facial hair comes between the sealing periphery of the face piece and the face or if facial hair interferes with the valve function.

 

·         JEWELRY:

 

o   Jewelry of any kind, not including watches, is generally prohibited during work hours due to safety concerns.  The policy regarding the wearing of wedding bands is a departmental responsibility.  However, during the practical portions of recruit training, the wearing of wedding bands and rings are strongly discouraged and students may, at the discretion of the Course Coordinator, be required to remove them temporarily.

 

4-6.1.F  NFPA COMPLIANT EQUIPMENT, APPARATUS, AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

 

Because all the equipment, apparatus, and personal protective equipment used in TFRTC sponsored training programs is supplied by Thurston County Fire Departments, they are presumed to be compliant with NFPA standards and the WAC as outlined below: (See 4-3.5.C  CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS (PLANNING AND CONDUCTING), PREREQUISITES.)

 

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING