Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Appearance Standards

• This document outlines the professional appearance standards for all Palm Beach County Fire Rescue personnel.
• The policy aims to establish guidelines for personnel to project a professional image to the public.
• The Deputy Chief of Administration, with the PPM Committee, oversees future updates to the policy under the Fire Rescue Administrator's authority.
• The policy applies to all Palm Beach County Fire Rescue personnel and reservists.
• Attachment A provides a Professional Appearance Appeals Request form.
• All personnel must present a neat, professional appearance while on duty or at Fire Rescue-sponsored events when wearing a uniform.
• Immediate supervisors ensure personnel adhere to Fire Rescue's professional appearance standards.
• Management determines if personnel meet professional appearance standards, directing personnel to correct issues.
• Personnel can appeal directives to the Appearance Board for final review.

Grooming Standards

• Hair should be conservative, evenly trimmed, well-groomed, and tapered on the sides and back, presenting a professional appearance.
• Hair length, style, or bulk cannot interfere with the proper fit, use, or compromise of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• The front of styled hair cannot extend into or below the eyebrow, and side hair can only cover the portion of the ear above the center of the ear canal opening.
• Hair on the back of the head cannot extend below the bottom edge of the rear of the duty uniform shirt.
• Designs, sculptures, or writing in the hair are prohibited.
• Hair must be a naturally occurring human hair color, and when wearing hats/caps, hair must be neat and not protrude outward.
• Females in Operations must secure their hair so it does not impede operational activity; males are not allowed to have ponytails.
• Facial hair must be clean shaven at all times for health and safety, especially regarding respirator/SCBA use.
• No facial hair can touch or be between the face and the respirator/SCBA mask's face piece seal.
• Sideburns must be uniform from top to bottom, neatly trimmed, and not excessively heavy or extend below the earlobe or forward to compromise the respirator/SCBA mask seal.
• Beards and goatees, including lip beards, are prohibited for uniformed personnel, except for Support Services.
• If worn by Support Services personnel, beards must be neatly trimmed to avoid safety hazards and cannot be styled into designs, contain beads or jewelry, or be braided.
• Mustaches are allowed if neatly trimmed, not bushy or unkempt, and do not resemble a beard or extend onto the chin/jawline.
• Mustaches must follow the natural contour of the upper lip and not touch or interfere with the seal of a respirator/SCBA mask.
• Fingernails cannot compromise protective gloves and must not extend more than ½ inch beyond the fingertip.
• Colognes and scented products should be used sparingly to avoid offense or adverse reactions.
• All members must maintain good personal hygiene while on duty.
• Cosmetics are discouraged for operations personnel; if worn, they must be natural, conservatively applied, and in good taste.

Jewelry and Body Ornamentation

• Body ornamentation must not be visible or exposed while on duty, in uniform, or representing Fire Rescue in any official capacity.
• Jewelry worn with a uniform must be secured under normal clothing items/inside uniform shirt.
• Jewelry concealed under clothing should be avoided due to hazards like heat collection, electrical conduction, and snagging.
• Earrings are prohibited for personnel on duty or with Fire Rescue's Class A uniform, except for female administrative personnel who can wear post-style earrings no larger than ½ inch in diameter.
• Only one ear post is allowed per ear, placed in the ear lobe.
• Earplugs are not allowed and earlobes cannot be expanded by rings.
• Large, empty, visible piercing holes that appear anatomically abnormal must be covered, and implants that cause an anatomically abnormal appearance are not permitted.

Tattoos

• New tattoos on the head, neck, face, and hands are expressly prohibited as of October 1, 2011.
• Fire Rescue personnel with visible tattoos of this nature must declare them before the final effective date of the policy revision.
• A written notice of declaration, including a description and location of tattoos, must be filed with Recruitment and Human Resource Development and added to the employee personnel file.
• Visible tattoos that depict or refer to sexual content, intolerance, discrimination, or associations with groups advocating such, or those detrimental to good discipline and incompatible with Fire Rescue's purpose, must be covered at all times.

Dress Codes

• Fire Rescue issues uniforms according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement and Fire Rescue policy.
• Each individual can wear the uniform and should wear it in a manner that displays professionalism.
• Uniformed personnel must maintain a professional appearance; uniforms must be laundered, pressed, and in good repair.
• Uniforms worn on duty or at Fire Rescue-sanctioned functions must be approved by and purchased or issued by the Fire Rescue quartermaster system.
• Off-duty personnel attending County training sessions, classes, or meetings must adhere to a dress code.
• Prohibited attire includes shorts, cut‐off jeans, flip‐flops, tank tops, and clothing with offensive images or slogans.
• This standard ensures all off-duty personnel present a professional image to the public during County training sessions, as personnel are included in training.

Uniform Regulations

• Personnel must conform to appropriate dress code standards; Class A, B, C, and D uniforms cannot be worn off duty, except for Fire Rescue-sanctioned functions.
• When performing Public Education activities, Fire Safety Inspections, or public presentations, personnel should wear a clean, pressed uniform.
• Investigations and the Training and Safety Division may be allowed to wear other uniforms appropriate to specific work being done.
• Personnel can wear Fire Rescue-approved T-shirts, shorts, and sweat suits during on-duty fitness training with proper footwear.
• The Urban Search and Rescue Team can wear a Fire Rescue-approved team T-shirt (long/short sleeve) during training or deployment.
• Special Operations personnel may wear a Fire Rescue-approved team T-shirt (long/short sleeve) when participating in dirty training.
• Individualized Battalion logos for T-shirts may be approved by the Deputy Chief of Operations, limited to a 4 ½" logo on the upper left front area in place of Fire Rescue logo; logo T-shirts are not approved for purchase through Fire Rescue
• All personnel working on a unit must wear the same uniform type.
• Fire Rescue-issued job shirts are authorized for uniform wear for bargaining unit Fire Rescue personnel.
• Fire Rescue personnel must have all necessary uniforms, including a minimum Class C uniform while on duty, maintaining them in good condition.
• Uniforms showing signs of poor condition are not permitted.
• All uniforms and insignias remain Fire Rescue property and cannot be used without approval.
• Wearing or displaying Fire Rescue insignia is prohibited when endorsing a commercial product/business, expressing political preferences, which discredits the County.
• Uniform shirts must be tucked in at all times.
• Shoes and boots must be black.
• Patent leather shoes are allowed; heels cannot exceed 1".
• All footwear must be clean and shined.

More Regulations on Appearance

• Boots must be zipped or tied, pants not bloused.
• Belts must be black, well-kept, and shined.
• Badges, pins, and insignias worn with the Fire Rescue uniform must be issued or sanctioned by Fire Rescue and neatly polished.
• Sunglasses must be non-ornate with neutral frames and not worn indoors.
• Personnel can wear the Fire Rescue uniform when traveling to or from duty if a complete uniform compliant with all policy aspects.
• There should be no comingling of uniform clothing and civilian attire.
• Loss, damage, or theft of uniform items must follow policy Property Damage and Liability Injury Reports (PPM FR-T-302).

Operations Personnel Uniforms

• Class A uniforms include Class A Uniform Hat with Hat Badge, collar brass, badges, insignias, patches, awards, and nameplates displayed as per standards.
• Also includes a Double-Breasted Navy coat with matching Class A pants, a long-sleeve shirt according to rank (blue for Firefighters/Driver-Operators, white from Lieutenants up), a white undershirt (if worn), black uniform tie with approved tie clasp, Fire Rescue-issued black leather belt.
• Buckle made of silver or gold according to rank with Rescue Maltese Cross or County Service Award Buckle, black plain socks, and black low-cut leather shoes (officer style/highly polished, no boots).
• Class B uniforms encompass a long-sleeve shirt according to rank (blue for Firefighters/Driver-Operators, white from Lieutenants up), a white undershirt,collar brass, badges, insignias, patches, awards, and nameplates displayed as per standards.
• Buckle made of silver or gold according to rank with Rescue Maltese Cross or County Service Award Buckle, black plain socks, black low-cut leather shoes (officer style/highly polished, no boots).
• No work or EMS pants, black uniform tie with approved tie clasp, Fire Rescue-issued black leather belt.
• The female attire option is a white uniform long-sleeve shirt, matching tie, and skirt (dark navy blue) or dress slacks (dark navy blue) with black pumps or uniform shoes (not for operations personnel).
• Class C uniforms include a short/long-sleeve blue/white shirt according to rank with military creases, and a white undershirt, if worn.
• Collar brass, badges, insignias, patches, awards, and nameplates displayed as per standards, officer style/work/EMS pants, black leather belt per rank, black socks with low-cut shoes and leather shoes.
• They are to wear complete Class D uniform during Public Education, Inspections or training; otherwise, clean, pressed Class C or above uniform.
• Female attire is a white uniform short/long sleeve shirt matching ties, and a with Rescue approved skirt or dress slacks with pumps or uniform shoes. Class D uniforms include either a long-sleeve or short sleeve polo shirt depending on one's rank.
• This may include B.O.S.S. personnel listed as Fire Safety Specialist to wear either white or grey polo shirts, and Alarm Office Communications Supervisors shall wear white polo shirts.
• The Communication Center and Operations personnel shall wear heather grey polo shirts with their name and position embroidered on the front right side of the shirt and Fire Rescue on the back.
• The Staff Captains, EMS Captains and above, shall wear white polo shirts with their name and position embroidered on the front right side. Buckle made of silver or gold according to rank with Rescue Maltese Cross or County Service Award Buckle, black plain socks with low-cut shoes and leather shoes. - Operational Captains, and below, shall wear a grey polo shirt.
• They are to wear officer style work or EMS pants, black leather belt per rank.
• • Jumpsuits: The wearing of Fire Rescue-issued jumpsuits shall be allowed only after 1600 hours and the zipper must be fastened no lower than the top of the chest pockets.
• A long sleeve Fire Rescue issued t-shirts may be permitted under jumpsuits for cold weather. f. Paramedics/Fire Rescuers:
• Paramedic shall wear Paramedic patch on right shoulder and Fire Rescue patch on left shoulder 1” below seam.
• All others shall wear Fire Rescue patch on both shoulders 1" below seam.

Personnel Regulations

• Flight Medics are authorized to wear Fire Rescue uniforms while on duty as Trauma Hawks., as do investigations of the Training and Safety Division
• The all Administrative (Non‐Bargaining Personnel) shall maintain an appropriate and professional appearance, not wearing casual items such as t-shirts, flip-flops, and tank tops.
• Female personnel are issued uniforms to wear with approved slacks or skirt with uniform shirt, and black shoes
• The Communication Center always has the uniform pants and shoes with the fire rescue or CBA apparel
• Fire Rescue Class (A-D) are for all Bargaining and non-bargaining personnel appropriate
• Support Services uniform will be provided by the Co. Rental company, and Mechanics get a mechanic's belt.

Accessories

• To wear Winter Jackets or Windbreakers, they shall be Fire Rescue approved; patches must be worn, 1" below the seam, and can be in hat form only worn with some ball caps or hats (worn in hot sunlight direct) by the incident commander.
• They include insignias worn at the shoulder, collar and/or chest.
• The nameplate can be worn 1/8" gap from the top of the shirt pocket seam, serving pins can be placed beneath, with silver or gold colors for personnel.
• They also include patches that are for Rescue approved apparel to replace paramedic patches (3-3/4").

Appearance Violations and Appeals

• A supervisor or ranking officer may approach Fire Rescue personnel whose appearance becomes disheveled or unprofessional, requesting improvement.
• Personnel is expected to comply with requests, and those cited for unprofessional appearance receive a Fire Rescue personnel Development Form.
• A Battalion Chief or District Chief determines if personnel is relieved of duty if they fail to comply.
• Affected personnel can request photographs for their case to the Professional Appearance Board (P.A.B.).
• Personnel can appeal to the P.A.B. in writing if a request seems unreasonable.
• A request must be presented prior to completing shift or duty if notified to improve appearance and include photographs of the disputed issue.
• The P.A.B. consists of three personnel: one selected by the Fire Rescue Administrator, one by Local #2928, and a third mutually agreed upon.
• All appeals are heard reasonably after the written request. All P.A.B. decisions are binding, and the board determines appearance acceptability.
• This appeals process does not apply to requests to change or replace uniforms deemed disheveled or unserviceable by Fire Rescue.