The Strasbourg administrative court asked Monday for the reinstatement of mustachioed and bearded Moselle firefighters who had been sent back home because they could not properly wear protective masks against the coronavirus, AFP learned Thursday from sources familiar with the matter.
Two firefighters obtained an interim order for the suspension of this decision, which prohibited them from intervening if they were not razed to the ground. In a note dated March 16, the Moselle fire and rescue service (Sdis 57) argued that the FFP2 mask, which firefighters must wear to protect themselves from the coronavirus, was no longer effective in the presence of hair. on the face.
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Some had complied with the shaving injunction, others had refused. In total, 25 Metz firefighters, resistant to a razor blow, had been suspended and ordered to return home. "The court considered that there was an urgency to reinstate them and expressed a serious doubt" on their placement in special leave of absence, added the source close to the file.
According to Colonel Vallier, at the head of Sdis 57, the court decision will be applied and it has been "served on the agents that they will come back". But if they choose to keep their beard, Sdis 57 will continue to apply "the precautionary principle" and adapt their missions, he warned, questioned by AFP.
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"They will be safe, will not be exposed" to victims carrying the virus and will not go into intervention in trucks, in confined spaces, detailed Colonel Vallier, explaining that they "will prepare operations for example for their colleagues " "The court did not rule on the beard" itself , he said.
In addition to the referral to the administrative court, complaints of "discrimination" on the grounds of physical appearance had also been filed.