OSHA proposed rule on emergency response set for publication

Washington — OSHA is eyeing January for publication of a proposed update to its standard on emergency response to expand safety and health protections for first responders.

The agency announced Dec. 21 that the proposed rule would “modernize its ‘Fire Brigades’ standard – first published in 1980 – as its protections for a narrow set of industrial and private firefighters have become outdated.”

The updated standard would cover firefighters, emergency medical service providers, and technical search and rescue workers. It includes major changes for protective clothing and equipment for emergency responders. It also would require employers to obtain baseline medical screenings for all first responders and ensure continued medical surveillance is performed when responders are exposed to the byproducts of fires and explosions more than 15 times a year. 

OSHA will accept public comment on the proposal once it’s published.

“Emergency responders are critical workers in all of our communities, and they deserve protections that keep up with today’s industry practices,” OSHA administrator Doug Parker said. “We are proposing much-needed updates.”