Spring Fire Department Grooming and Appearance Guidelines PDF

# Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 - Standard Operating Line SFD.055.b - Grooming and Appearance ## Revision History | Revision No. | Issue Date | Review Date | Operation | Effective Date | Approved by: | Reviewed by: | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 0 | 16 Jan. 2024 | 1 Jan. 20...

# Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 - Standard Operating Line SFD.055.b - Grooming and Appearance ## Revision History | Revision No. | Issue Date | Review Date | Operation | Effective Date | Approved by: | Reviewed by: | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 0 | 16 Jan. 2024 | 1 Jan. 2025 | | 16 Jan. 2024 | Scott C. Seifert | S | | 1 | | | | | | S | ## 1. Executive Summary - Supervisors are responsible for ensuring the appropriate appearance and grooming of subordinates. - Members should maintain a neat and professional appearance. - Hair should be configured and colored within guidelines with a focus on not interfering with safety equipment. - Facial hair should be configured within guidelines and should not interfere with safety equipment. - Jewelry is limited to specific guidelines and exclude body piercings other than earrings. - Visible tattoos should not be offensive in nature. ## 2. Purpose - Spring Fire Department takes pride in the appearance of its employees and members. Your personal appearance reflects the department. ## 3. Policy Statement - All members are required to report to work neatly groomed and dressed. You are expected to maintain personal hygiene habits that are generally accepted in the community, i.e., clean clothing, good grooming, and personal hygiene. ## 4. Scope - This guideline applies to all members. ## 5. Definitions - See Glossary. ## 6. Procedures and Responsibilities - **Grooming Standards:** - Officers and supervisors are responsible for the appearance of personnel under their direct supervision. - All members are responsible to abide by departmental grooming standards and maintain a neat and professional appearance while representing Spring Fire Department or in uniform. - **Hair** - Hair length, fullness, style, and shape should comply with the following restrictions and always conform to safety. Hair should be neat, clean, well-trimmed, properly combed and pulled-back/always restrained. Longer hairstyles are permitted within the following restrictions: - While in any uniform the height and/or bulk of the hairstyles should not exceed 4 inches from the scalp. The length should not go past the bottom of the shirt collar, whether in a hair restraint (e.g., bun, ponytail, etc.) or not. Nor should the height, length or bulk of the hair style jeopardize the proper wearing of PPE or the personal safety of the firefighter in the performance of firefighting or other emergency operations. - The firefighting hood must cover all hair on members' head. - **Sideburns:** - Sideburns should be maintained at a length and/or configuration which will not come into contact with a breathing apparatus face piece (inner seal) at any point. - **Hair Dye:** - Hair may be dyed, tinted, or frosted in colors naturally occurring in human hair. Any stripes, spots, or color other than natural is prohibited. - **Hair Restraints:** - Non-flammable hair restraints (rubber bands / barrettes) may be worn but should match the hair color, or be black or brown, and have no ornamentation. - **Natural Styles:** -Natural styles may be worn within the above limitations. - **Facial Hair:** - **Mustaches:** - Mustaches may be worn but should be neat in appearance. Handlebar mustaches are not permitted. - Mustaches should be trimmed so the full upper lip is exposed. - The moustache shall not extend more than ½” below the corners of the mouth. - Facial hair must in no way restrict the positive inner seal of the breathing apparatus face piece. - **Beards and Goatees:** - Beards and goatees are not permitted. - **Lower lip whiskers:** - Lower lip whiskers may not exceed one-half (1/2”) inch in any dimension. - **Piercings/Jewelry:** - Members may wear jewelry of a conservative style at their discretion so long as it does not present a safety concern. - Female members may wear stud earrings in diamond, gold, or silver only. Stud earring shall not exceed 6mm in size. No other type of ear ornament shall be permitted. Only one (1) earring per earlobe will be allowed. - Members can wear one (1) ring per hand and a watch. One (1) neck chain is permissible if worn on the inside to the shirt and can go unnoticed and is not the choke type. - No bracelets, except “medical alert” type, will be worn. - Body piercings are not authorized while in uniform. No articles shall be attached to or through the ear, nose, tongue, eyebrow, or any other body part, except for a clear tongue retainer. No other body piercing retainers are permissible. - **Tattoos:** - Visible tattoos shall not be inappropriate or offensive in nature. ## 7. Grooming - Other - **Perfume and Cologne:** - Perfume and cologne should be worn in moderation. - **Cosmetics:** - The applications of cosmetics should be consistent with the professional appearance required by the Department. Members choosing to wear cosmetics should apply them lightly, colors should neither be too bright nor too dark. - **Lipstick:** - Lipstick should not be worn with shades that distinctly contrast with the complexion, that detract from the uniform, or that are extreme. Some examples include, but are not limited to purple, gold, black, blue, white, bright red, khaki, camouflage colors, and fluorescent colors. - **Fingernails:** - Fingernails should be kept neatly trimmed and should not extend more than ¼” beyond the ends of the fingers. Fingernail polish is permitted. Shades may not be extreme or detract from the uniform. ## 8. References & Related Policies - This section provides references to applicable laws, standards, or other related internal policies or guidelines. - **NFPA** - **Applicable State or Federal OSHA** - **Spring FD** ## 9. Contact Office - The appropriate contact office for questions or comments on this SOG is: - Company Officer - District Chief - Deputy Chief of Operations - Assistant Chief - Fire Chief ## 10. List of Changes | Revision No. | Description of Changes | Approved by | Effective Date | |---|---|---|---| | 01 | Split from SFD.055 Uniforms for distinct Grooming and Appearance Standard | Logan | 12/8/202 | ## 11. Errors - See something wrong? Click here or use this QR code to submit an error or inconsistency. ## 12. Conclusion - This policy is for internal use only and does not enlarge a member's legal duty or civil liability in any way. This policy should not be construed as creating a duty to act or a higher duty of care, with respect to third-party civil claims against members or the department. A violation of this policy, if proven, can only form the basis of a complaint by this department for non-judicial administrative action in accordance with the laws governing member discipline.