Another Sikh Controversy

Another controversy has erupted at an Alberta jobsite after a 24 year-old Sikh man from England was ordered to either shave his beard or leave, because of safety concerns. He chose to fly back home earlier this week, saying the experience has turned him off Alberta and adding he doubts he would return if offered another job. He plans to meet with Human Resources officers and union officials with his company, to determine if they will take further action, against TransAlta Corporation.

He was ordered off the job at the Sundance plant, near Wabamun, west of Edmonton, after being told the length of his beard interfered with a respirator and posed a safety risk.

However, for religious reasons, he is not allowed to shave his beard. He had been working at the plant for five weeks and had passed an earlier mask fit test without a problem.