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I noticed an article in the news from the CBC about Sikh Drivers not wanting to wear hardhats at work. (See article from Tuesday, 7 Mar 06)

This reminds me of the incident I witnessed back in 1986 while going through Basic training at Cornwallis, Nova Scotia.
During my 7th week of training, we heard that a platoon had a Sikh recruit going through the training and wanting to be in the Artilary.

In the 9th week, we were all marching through the base and came across that platoon. There was marching 90 plus recruits, clean shaven and with green berets, and one purple turban recruit, unshaven, and sticking out of that group. We also found out that he was allowed to pray in his own little place in the barracks.This seemed so "wrong" I felt at the time.

Later on, we found out that this same Sikh recruit went for Artilary Training, but could not finish the course because he would not wear a helmet, which is manditory when in the Artilary.

Why do they put themselves in trouble like this when it is for their own safety.

All this does is make themselves appear not to fit in with other people in this country.

What do you think about this?

   

Well, it is an integral part of their religious beliefs to wear a turban, but I do agree with your third last line.

That being said, he will probably lose his fight. There was a case back in the 80's (or 90's) where a Sikh man refused to do the same in a mine (if I remember right). He sued for discrimination but ultimately lost because personal safetly trumps religious expression in cases like these.

   

Fuck them, if they don't like it go back where they don't need hardhats. jeeeze.

   

Agreed. This country is getting far too leanient.

   

[align=justify]Thanks to denmns for starting this topic. There's been quite a controversy about the Sikhs not conforming to mandatory rules about uniforms not only in the military, but also in other fields such as police work (local, as well as RCMP).

My personal opinion on this is that anyone who immigrates to Canada needs to understand and accept that in certain fields, specific uniforms and headgear are mandatory, and that if they are unwilling - for whatever reason - to abide by these mandatory rules, they should not apply for the work.

We have these mandatory rules in place for a good reason. In some cases, such as the RCMP, I don't feel that it's right to demand a compromise for something that is part of our history. We would never get away with trying to fight the laws and rules of other countries - we'd be told to accept them, or get out - so immigrants to Canada need to do the same thing here. You don't go to someone else's country and demand that accommodations be made because specific requirements don't fit with your beliefs.[/align]

   

   

You make a good point there. The last thing the men need is an injured worker on there hands because he refused to were head protection.

   

That might have been the kaiser underground mine in Sparwood BC.(Balmer-now sealed)
They basically told them no skid lid no work so they modified the turban for a hard hat to fit over. Wasnt just the courts either,the miners also refused to work with anyone not wearing one,especially the mine rescue teams,and no-one go's underground with out the rescue team.

Pretty tough to challenge what was then the mines act when safety is concerned.

   

I understand making some accomodations, but safety comes first. I am sure that they know that they are going to have to wear a helmet when they get into these situations. If you are not willing to abide by that than dont got for that job. The only other possibility would be to not makde them wear a hemet and say if yo udie it is your own fault and nobdo ywill pay anying of insure you. But that is stupid because a lot of training was wasted on them and they are a constant risk. It is just rediculous.

   

OH boy, first knives then no hardhats. I bet after the knife one they think they can win this. Dispicable.

   

I was talking to a sikh friend today and I found out that there is a special way to do a turban such that it would fit under a hard hat, and there are special hard hats that would fit a larger turban to this really is rediculous.

   

Most likely not. Like I mentioned in my earlier post, there is a precedent already on the books vis-a-vis hard hats and turbans and it's been that way for at least a decade.

And it's so nice to have hwanker back. I missed his random, nativist bigotry.

   

Yep... we had Sikhs erecting heavy equipment in telephone exchanges. They wore a special king of turbine, one guy would take it off and put on a hard hat, no questions, no problems. They also left their kirpans at home.
They were the good old days.

   

Why are Sikhs wearing turbines on their heads now?

   

It was a standing joke at work

   

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