Muslim Worker Not Discriminated Against, Says Sheriff's Office

[Omaha Steve]

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2009/05/sheriffs_office_denies_discrim.php

Muslim Worker Not Discriminated Against, Says Sheriff's Office; OSHA Says Facial Hair and Masks Don't Mix
By Ray Stern in News
Friday, May. 29 2009 @ 4:14PM


Image: Wikimedia Commons

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office denies that a Muslim detention officer was discriminated against because of his beard, citing Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules that require a clean shave with face masks.

The office's response runs counter to what is claimed in the lawsuit filed today by Bosnian immigrant Sinan Fazlovic (with the help of the ACLU). The lawsuit states:

The primary occupational safety agency in the country ("OSHA"), opined in 1998 that persons with beards could meet the standards for wearing a secure SCBA or equivalent device and work under smoke and fire conditions.

We called the state OSHA office to get verification of this. But Bruce Hanna, a state industrial hygienist, had the opposite opinion: "You're not supposed to have any facial hair" when wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus mask, he said.

Here's the full statement about the ACLU lawsuit from MCSO:

This lawsuit erroneously accuses the Maricopa Sheriff's Office of religious discrimination.

The lawsuit fails to acknowledge our responsibility to comply with state-adopted federal OSHA regulations governing the type of facemasks authorized for use in jail emergency situations where life and health for officers and inmates are at risk.

This Sheriff's Office is committed to providing a safe environment for employees and inmates. We comply with Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health as it sets the standards for the safe use of this equipment as it pertains to facial hair and its potential to compromise the effectiveness of safety equipment.

Gerard Sheridan
Chief of Custody
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

FULL story at link.

[47of74]

1. Maricopa County, Surprise, F-ing Surprise...

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. This is not a Sheriff Joe issue

[BlooInBloo]

2. Of course, there's the other part that you didn't quote...

"Now, it's possible that Fazlovic's other claims may be valid, such as the way he was treated by the sheriff's office. But the issue of the face mask is not really in question, says Hanna. He pointed us to an OSHA directive which states facial hair should not come "between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face..."

In fact, he says, the state OSHA worked with the sheriff's office recently in testing two other Muslim workers at the jail who wanted to keep their beards. The two passed a seal test only after trimming their beards every closely, Hanna says."

[paulsby]

3. i am on the riot squad

we wear these types of masks. we do fit tests.

facial hair does make the seal less reliable.

we had one narco guy who hadn't shaved in maybe a week,and he was having trouble getting a good seal.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. This has come up for non-religious reasons in the past...its a safety thing, not discrimination

The answer is in most cases a very short and limited coverage beard can still achieve the required seal, however, they look funny as all hell and most men won't wear one that works with masks. They also will not check the muslim box either. The department is right to require that he be able to wear and function with the mask, since its a condition of employment. He also knew that when he hired on. Can't blame Sheriff Joe for this one. To resolve things, put him in an old tear gas training chamber and see how well his does...the answer will be VERY obvious.