Le Figaro Lyon
Seven professional firefighters from the Loire, suspended for refusing to shave their beards since mid-February, will not, for the moment, be able to return to their barracks without shaving.
Seized in summary proceedings, the administrative court of Lyon ruled this Thursday, March 7 that the internal regulations of the SDIS of the Loire,
“are not likely to seriously compromise a public interest”
.
“Under these conditions, the applicant's situation (...) results solely from their choices not to comply with the instructions of their hierarchical superiors
,” added the court.
For three weeks, firefighters have no longer been admitted to the Loire departmental fire and rescue service (SDIS) because they wear beards.
This disciplinary measure is based on a provision of the internal regulations of the SDIS taken in 2020, which was not previously applied, and according to which wearing a beard can compromise the tightness of protective masks and expose firefighters to toxic fumes during intervention.
A “serious subject for public safety”
Relieved of their duty, the seven firefighters stationed in Saint-Étienne have since been placed in a non-duty position,
“which prohibits them from working and deprives them of remuneration”
, assures their lawyer, Me Marie Cochereau.
Tuesday during the hearing, the lawyer assured that nothing in the regulations prohibits the wearing of a beard.
“It is only indicated that the beard is authorized if well trimmed and clean to guarantee optimal use of wearing a mask
,” the lawyer indicated.
Maître Petit, the lawyer for the Loire fire service, told him it was a “
serious issue for public safety”.
“It is curious that firefighters do not think about securing themselves before protecting the population.
We are dealing with a problem of agent safety and that is why the hierarchy is not compromising
,” he argued.