Mythbusters

We have a policy on secondary employment. Employees can't have a second job without first obtaining written approval from the Service.

We have a policy which prohibits the use of drugs, alcohol and smoking in all of our premises.

Yes, you can still fast, but it is important that all service members are able to perform their core role whilst on duty. It is important to recognise that dehydration can affect a person very quickly. An individual may believe they are perfectly fine but very quickly succumb to the adverse effects of dehydration. We encourage staff who choose to fast to discuss it with their line manager.

We totally respect your religious needs, but facial hair below the top lip is not currently allowed for health and safety reasons. As a Firefighter, you will need to wear a facemask when you're wearing breathing apparatus. Facial hair can stop the mask from forming a seal around the face, which could let dangerous airborne chemicals in.

No, but we encourage and welcome applications from these groups because they're under-represented within our workforce. However, all applicants are assessed purely on merit.

A new clause of the Deregulation Bill 2015 extends the existing exemption for Sikhs to have to wear a safety helmet under the Employment Act in all workplaces. However, there are exclusions for emergency response services and the military, which apply only in hazardous operational situations when wearing a safety helmet is considered necessary. These include, for example, entering a burning building where protective clothing needs to be worn to enclose the whole body, situations such as bomb disposal, or when dealing with hazardous materials like chemical leaks, bio-hazards or radiation.